Planning Division E-Newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 2 – May 16, 2012
Advancing a County Priority Investment Framework in Somerset County
County Planning Board work in advancing a criteria-based investment framework consistent with the State Strategic Plan is continuing with the release of draft Priority Preservation Investment
Areas (PPIAs), which were presented at the April Planning Chair Forum. Preliminary results to date for PPIAs show: 37,417 acres of preserved land, 8,355 acres of existing preserved farms, 68 historic sites and bridges open to the public, 11 primary greenways, 3 special resource areas and
21,186 acres of eligible farms within/near Agricultural Development Areas. Earlier in the year the
Board released draft Priority Growth Investment Areas (PGIAs), which together create a Priority
Investment framework for the county and, if approved by the State, make Somerset County and its municipalities eligible for State incentives and funding prioritization. Municipal support and buy-in is critical and the County Planning Board is engaging its municipalities in the preliminary work. Watch our progress at http://www.cosomerset.nj.us/planweb/sustainable/index.htm
State Strategic Plan Adoption
A redlined version of the Final State Strategic Plan was to be posted on the Office of Planning
Advocacy’s web site at http://nj.gov.state/planning/ before April 30, 2012, but has been delayed. Because the State Planning Commission missed the 60-day time period from the end of the public comment to act on the Plan, it will require re-posting and at least one more public hearing. The Plan sets forth a vision for the future along with strategies primarily aligning state agencies to achieve the vision – a position advocated both by the County Planning Board and the
Somerset County Business Partnership.
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection published a Public Notice in the New Jersey
Public Register on May 21 announcing that a public hearing on a WQMP Amendment on proposed modified sewer service areas for Somerset County will be held at the County
Administration Building in Somerville at 7 PM on June 20, 2012. This amendment has been prepared by the County Planning Board with tremendous input from local municipal wastewater management committees and with public involvement throughout the process. NJDEP’s Notice and countywide maps are posted on the County Planning Board website at http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/planweb/wastewater/index.htm
For further information on Somerset County Wastewater Management Plan, contact Laurette
Kratina, Supervising Planner, at Kratina@co.somerset.nj.us
Regional Center Moves Towards Plan Endorsement
At the April 30, 2012 State Planning Commission (SPC) meeting, the SPC approved a minor boundary change for the Somerset County Regional Center encompassing Somerville, Raritan and adjacent portions of Bridgewater, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the final steps toward achieving Plan Endorsement. This is a significant milestone for the County
Planning Board, involving inter-municipal, county and state planning coordination.
For information on the Regional Center, visit: http://regionalcenterpartnership.org
Housing Trust Fund Briefing Report Released
On April 20, 2012, the County Planning Board released a Briefing Report to all municipalities on the potential loss of unspent Local Housing Trust Funds that must be forfeited to the State in July
2012. The Report outlines strategies to retain these funds rather than having the cost associated with implementing affordable housing plans become an additional burden on local taxpayers. A copy of the briefing report can be viewed at http://www.co.somerset.nj.us.planweb/learn.htm
Updated Housing Resources Available Online
have been recently updated and posted on the County Planning Board’s website at http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/planweb/maps.htm
Both maps provide locations as well as project and contact information for senior housing and affordable housing opportunities in Somerset
County.
RVCC’s New 5-Year Plan
Planning Director Bob Bzik will be participating on June 15, 2012 in a strategic planning session for Raritan Valley Community College’s (RVCC) new 5-Year Plan for 2012-2015. Factors that

Planning Division E-Newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 2 – May 16, 2012 impact higher education – including demographics, expectations for student success, impact of technology and economic and labor force factors – have changed significantly since the last Plan for 2008-2012. The Planning Division hopes to share some of its current work and observations to help shape the College’s Strategic Plan.
Joint April NJTPA and NYMTC Freight Meeting
Freeholder Deputy Director Peter Palmer, Chairman of the NJTPA Freight Committee, hosted an informative panel discussion on April 16, 2012 on the
To view the multi-media presentation, go to http://www.njtpa.org
and click on the featured presentation. NJTPA’s “Links & Insights” on their website also provides current links to other recent developments in transportation policy and legislation affecting our region.
Transit Hub Inventory
County Planning Division Staff attended a special briefing on NJ Future’s “Transit Hub Asset
Inventory.” This research report will highlight assets around all transit hubs in the State, including
Somerset County. It can be used to attract investment around these facilities and encourage transit-oriented development.
To view the report (once it’s made available), visit www.njfuture.org/researchpublications/research-reports/transit-hub-asset-inventory/
On April 19, 2012, the Governing (Strategy) Committee for the Invest Somerset Initiative
(Somerset County Comprehensive Economic Strategy) asked the Somerset County Business
Partnership Board of Directors for additional input and review of the results of the 3 business outreach efforts in February and March 2012. Job creation and private-sector investment were the major themes. Comments from the Board Members are being consolidated with previous business input to be reflected in the Vision Element for the County.
For more information on the draft Vision Element, contact Economic Development Vice
President, John Maddocks, at jmaddocks@scbp.org
Household Hazardous Waste Day
The next Household Hazardous Waste Day, which is open to all Somerset County residents, will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012, from 9AM – 2PM, at the South County Public Works Garage
(410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough).
For more information, please visit http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle/hazardouswaste.html
Sustainability – The New Competitive Edge
A joint Somerset County Business Partnership and Somerset County Energy Council Sustainability
Event will be held on June 8, 2012 at RVCC focusing on real Somerset County business case studies and opportunities for saving and going green. Agenda and registration information can be found at http://events.somersetbusinesspartnership.com/sbaweb/events/events.asp?&id=5590&wpid=-
101&cale_id=7486&details=true&newsession=TRUE&sid=649289157
Learn About Transportation-Oriented Development
Jon Carnegie, AICP/PP, Executive Director, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers
University, will present the results of 10 years of research into the impact of TOD development at a special presentation organized by the Somerville Borough Planning Board on May 23 at 8 PM in the Freeholders’ Meeting Room, County Administration Building, Somerville. Projects along
West Main Street, South Davenport and NJ Transit’s property at the rail station are a few of the
TODs advancing in Somerville.
United States Senate Committee OKs Rail Tunnel Funds
The Associated Press reported on April 20, 2012 that Amtrak may receive $20 million to continue preliminary design and engineering work on a pair of new Hudson River rail tunnels named “The Gateway Project.” Expanding rail capacity into NYC has long been supported by the
County Planning Board to improve mass transit service and enhance the region’s competitive economic edge.

Planning Division E-Newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 2 – May 16, 2012
Go-Green Monthly Newsletter
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has launched a monthly on-line newsletter at http://www.epa.gov/gogreen The newsletter contains information regarding things average people can do or use to be more green, as well as videos and more for green tips for use in our homes, communities and offices. Check it out!
News from the Raritan River Collaborative
Rutgers University and the Sustainable Raritan River Collaborative will be hosting a June 14, 2012
Conference at Duke Farms in Hillsborough on
The Conference will offer speakers and workshops that focus on river restoration and re-use, including citizen science, stream restoration, success stories, land management, flood mitigation and adaption. Registration is required by June 1, 2012 – information can be found at http://www.raritan.rutgers.edu/events/
Join an “Energy Conversation”
USEPA has recently organized a series of blogs under “Green Conversation Groups” to make it easier to find topics of interest ranging from “The Eco Student” to “It all starts with Science.”
Check out these discussion groups and more at http://epa.gov/greenconversations
Raritan Takes on Waterfront Development
Check out Raritan Borough Mayor Jo-Ann Liptak’s article in the NJLM Magazine on Raritan
Borough’s Waterfront Studio at http://njslom.org/magazine/2012-05/pg-4.html
Funded by the
Regional Center Partnership of Somerset County, the Rutgers University Bloustein Graduate
Planning studio identified five key strategies for the Borough’s Raritan River waterfront including place-making, adaptive reuse and neighborhood-compatible urban design, complete streets, greenway linkages and natural habitat restoration. Building partnerships and continued public involvement will be the key to the Borough’s success.
Division Street Grand Re-opening
At 6PM on May 18, 2012, Somerville officials will celebrate the reopening of Division Street in the heart of the Arts District. Division Street was fully reconstructed not only as a street but as a public gathering place and to serve as a way to inspire the arts. Events for the third annual “Arts on Division Street” include world-class visual arts and performances, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, watercolors, printmaking, dramatic readings, poetry, music, dance and more. Features include the Oscar-nominated documentary short, and performances by the American Reperatory/Princeton Ballet School.
Also, Downtown Somerville’s “Restaurant Week” is being held from May 19-26 this year.
Enjoy all of these activities – and visit Somerville!
, demonstrations from
Green Ribbon Recognition at Sustainability Conference
At the National Green Ribbon Awards Program, the U.S. Department of Education gave
“National Green Achievement Status” to the Willow School in Bedminster and Bernards High
School. The award is intended to be the equivalent of the prestigious and exclusive National Blue
Ribbon School. In the fall, the County Energy Council informed all schools about the “green” application process, which is very rigorous and must be vetted and supported by the State
Department of Education. Somerset County has two award winners out of 78 national recipients- the only county in the USA that can make that claim. Congratulations to our Somerset County
Green Ribbon Schools!
County Honors Historic Preservation and History Projects
At the Brook Arts Center in Bound Brook on May 2, 2012, the Cultural & Heritage
Commission recognized 5 historic preservation/restoration projects, 2 leadership awards and 4 history education award recipients. Guest speakers at the Annual Awards Ceremony were Dr. Ian
Burrow, V.P. Principal Archaeologist, Hunter Research and Dr. Richard Veit, Associate Professor of Archaeology, Monmouth University, who both provided an interesting talk on the
.
The purpose of the biennial program is to increase awareness of history and historic preservation; promote excellence in historic preservation; and recognize worthy individuals, organizations or projects. For more information on 2012 Awards Winners contact Tom D’Amico, Historic Sites
Coordinator Damico@co.somerset.nj.us

Planning Division E-Newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 2 – May 16, 2012
NJPO Planning Achievement Award
The Planning Achievement Award was given to the County Planning Board at New Jersey
Planning Officials (NJPO) Annual Award Ceremony for the “Making Connections-Somerset
County’s Circulation Master Plan Update,” the only county publication or plan honored by the statewide planning organization. “Making Connections” involved an extensive public outreach effort and computer modeling of different planning scenarios and projects to identify a transportation investment framework for the county.
A copy of the Plan can be viewed at http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/planweb/index/htm
Spirit of Somerset Award Recipient
Tom D’Amico, Supervising Planner/Historic Sites Coordinator, is being honored at the 2012 Spirit of Somerset Awards Dinner on June 13, 2012 at the Grounds for Sculpture and Rat’s Restaurant.
Tom is the Award Recipient in the Cultural & Heritage category and recognizes his long standing work in promoting historic preservation and heritage planning in the County. Well deserved!
Team Recognition Awards
The County Employee Recognition Committee and Board of Chosen Freeholders has recognized two separate “Planning Teams” within the Planning Division for their work in completing
“Making Connections” and the County Wastewater Management Plan lead by Supervising
Planners Walter Lane and Laurette Kratina, respectively. Kudos to staff - what a difference a
Team makes!
Panel Speaker
Planning Director Bob Bzik was a featured panel speaker at the
th
in New Brunswick on April 26, where he spoke on the County’s work in advancing a Priority Investment Framework, including the methodology, lessons learned and next steps. A similar presentation was made at the New Jersey
Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) in Newark to share the County’s work with other 13 counties in the NJTPA region.
Planning Your Summer Get-Away? Consider staying in a “green” hotel that not only promotes energy and water conservation, but also offers guests a variety of eco-friendly amenities, such as using organic products, or preparing meals with locally-grown foods. Check out http://www.greenyour.com/transportation/travel/vacation/tips/choose-a-green-hotel for information on how to find and reserve green hotels in a variety of destinations.
This is one easy thing that you can do, even while on vacation!
Somerset County Planning Division
20 Grove Street
PO Box 3000
Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone: (908) 231-7021
Fax: (908) 707-1749
Email: PlanningBd@co.somerset.nj.us