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Over the last three years the Builders League of South Jersey (BLSJ) has been developing a concept known as Growth Fit Management.  In February of 2005 BLSJ’s efforts came to fruition in a report and presentation entitled “Smart Planning through Growth Fit.” Growth Fit Management is a planning methodology that preserves open space and farmlands, while at the same time, providing affordable housing to support future population needs.

Since the introduction of “The Big Red Map” and its subsequent retraction, the building industry in New Jersey has been asking “Where will our children live?”  In spite of the current overregulation by the State, builders still want to provide quality, affordable housing in New Jersey; and, in spite of skyrocketing building costs and taxes, people still want to buy houses in New Jersey.  But we are running out of room.

Large lot zoning, also known as downzoning, has become the current trend in municipal zoning, and has created what the media describes as sprawl.  By definition, sprawl is characterized by large lots, fragmented open space and disconnected communities.  

Downzoning does not promote the preservation of open space or the creation of greenways, nor does it promote the sense of community that places like Haddonfield and Collingswood possess.  Downzoning forces the creation of extended road systems and infrastructure that need to be maintained by residential tax dollars.  Downzoning wastes what little land is left and does not provide room future population growth.

In contrast to downzoning, Growth Fit Management provides a way to preserve open space, farmlands, and environmentally sensitive lands, provides housing for population growth for the next 50 to 60 years, and reduces the tax burden on existing and future residents.  

Growth Fit Management methodologies identify the remaining lands available for development and the projected population growth for the region.  From this data, minimum densities are determined and mandated for the region at the County level.  The “Smart Planning through Growth Fit” report shows that minimum densities of 2.5 units per acre, similar to those existing in Princeton, are necessary to achieve Growth Fit Management goals.  Higher densities would allow builders to construct more homes, utilizing less land and requiring less infrastructure; thereby reducing the cost and making housing affordable again.

Growth Fit Management densities do not result in building cities like Newark, but instead, build communities like Collingswood.  The current planning trends are dysfunctional, with pockets of development popping up here and there, wherever the State has determined that development can occur.  

Growth Fit Management planning takes a common sense approach by examining the available land and determining densities required to support the population on a regional scale.  Moderate to high density communities are balanced with lower density communities and linked with open space corridors.  Growth Fit Management creates not only physical communities, but the sense of community that has been lost over time. 

On November 3, 2005, in its ongoing effort to foster regional discussions of critical issues facing future development in Southern New Jersey, the Senator Walter Rand Institute hosted the “South Jersey Regional Development Forum: A Discussion on the Growth Fit Model” at Rutgers University- Camden. The forum provided an arena to discuss a proposal by the Builders League of South Jersey (BLSJ) for a regional planning model known as Growth Fit. . The proposed county-centric planning aims to create more organized development through ratable-sharing and development choices made with the entire county area in mind. >>> more

 

Patrick M. Kane, PE

Taylor Wiseman & Taylor

124 Gaither Drive, Suite 150

Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054

856-235-7200