October is Community Planning Month. The APA-NJ is participating in a number of ways, including the distribution of Public Service Announcements and by holding our inaugural pro bono Planning Assistane Program in October. We hope that you can be of assistance in this effort as well. Perhaps the easiest way is to have your community adopt a proclamation in support of community planning (and don't forget about the press release announcing said adoption). A sample proclamation can be found here. To learn more about Community Planning Month and the many other ways you can help, please visit the APA website.

President's Corner (updated 9/15/08)

PLANNERS PROMOTING PLANNING
By Courtenay Mercer, NJAPA Chapter President

Did you know that October is National Community Planning Month? That’s right, we have our own month! Every year, APA promotes and publicizes the important role of planners and planning. This year, the APA aptly chose “Green Communities” as the month’s theme, which dovetails nicely with all the publicity “green” has received in the past year. The APA-NJ is participating in this effort in a number of ways and I hope you, the member’s of APA-NJ, can also assist in promoting our too often overlooked profession.

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The Redevelopment Handbook - A Guide to Rebuilding New Jersey's Communities

by Stan Slachetka and David G. Roberts © 2003. This Handbook has been jointly published by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association.

This book "is an easy-to-understand, practical guide that will help municipalities that are considering redevelopment "

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Common Ground Leadership Seminars

The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center and the New Jersey Department of Transportation invite you to three local leadership seminars on creating great places to walk and bike.

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New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Long Range 2035 Plan Public Meetings

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NJ DCA - Office of Smart Growth

The State Planning Rule Readoption without Amendment was published in the June 2, 2008 NJ Register. The 60 day comment period ends on August 1, 2008. Comments on the proposal may be submitted via fax to: (609) 292-3292; via e-mail to: osgmail@dca.state.nj.ucs; or via US Postal Service to:

Ben Spinelli, Secretary and Principal Executive Officer
State Planning Commission
c/o New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Office of Smart Growth
101 South Broad Street
PO Box 204
Trenton, NJ 08625-0204

For further information or questions, please contact Joy Farber - Chief Counsel at: (609) 292-3170 or via e-mail at Joy.Farber@dca.state.nj.us.

The proposal and full text of the current State Planning Rules may be found on the Office of Smart Growth's website at http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/osg/ or you may contact the Office of Smart Growth at (609) 292-7156.

NJ DCA - Office of Smart Growth

Please be advised that the State Planning Commission has proposed a repeal and proposed new rule regarding Plan Endorsement in the June 16, 2008 NJ Register. In addition, full text of the proposal may be found on the Office of Smart Growth's website at http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/osg/ or you may contact the Office of Smart Growth at (609) 292-7156. The 60 day comment period ends on August 15, 2008. Comments on the proposal may be submitted via fax at (609) 292-3292, via e-mail at sgmail@dca.state.nj.ucs or via US Postal Service to:

Ben Spinelli, Secretary and Principal Executive Officer

State Planning Commission
c/o New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Office of Smart Growth
101 South Broad Street
PO Box 204
Trenton, NJ 08625-0204

For further information or questions, please contact Joy Farber - Chief Counsel at: (609) 292-3170 or via e-mail at Joy.Farber@dca.state.nj.us.

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Transit-Friendly Development Newsletter

Volume 4, Issue 2 View Newsletter

Call for Best Practices in Affordable Housing

The Institute for Meadowlands Studies (IMS) at Rutgers University, an operation of the Center for Urban Policy Research at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, is compiling a collection of best practices in affordable housing. Selected projects will be featured as case studies in an upcoming IMS publication. An ideal project is completed and occupied; however, developments that are currently under construction, undergoing rehabilitation, or still in the planning stages are also of interest. To suggest a best practice case study, please contact:

David Listokin, Professor
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Rutgers University
Doctoral and Graduate Director
33 Livingston Ave, Suite 400
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1982
Phone: 732-932-3133, ext 550
Fax: 732-932-2363
E-mail: listokin@rci.rutgers.edu