[getsmart-l] Agricultural success story from New Jersey

[Janet May]

From:  http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/osg/smart/success.html

 

Saving the Farm in Chesterfield Township

 

Where many saw impending suburban sprawl and rapidly disappearing open
space, rural Chesterfield Township saw a rare opportunity. It is creating a
brand-new town center that will help preserve the historic village of
Crosswicks plus the hamlets of Sykesville and Chesterfield. When done, the
township will have managed growth while effectively protecting and
supporting farming as a cherished way of life in the region.


Protecting What's Important
Northern Burlington County is one of the most important and agriculture-rich
areas of the Garden State's "farm belt." Chesterfield Township lies near the
crossroads of I-295, Route 130 and the New Jersey Turnpike. This combination
presents a highly desirable target for developers, whose office parks,
retail complexes and upscale suburban tracts promise tenant and homeowners
"best of both worlds" locations. But Chesterfield Township's Master Plan
showed other ideas - namely to "promote the industry of farming while
providing...a reasonable level of development, including low- and
moderate-income housing" and to "safeguard the heritage of the township."
Piloting a unique program - Transfer of Development Credits (TDC's) -
township planners allowed landowners to transfer the development potential
of their properties into areas of the town slated for growth. The goal? A
private-market mechanism to accomplish farmland preservation, to complement
the publicly funded farmland preservation program.


Enhancing Quality of Life
Chesterfield's new town center is designed to attract a diverse population
of residents and businesses - then keep them there, with pedestrian-oriented
walkable neighborhoods, diverse housing and an array of local businesses and
services. Nearby resources will minimize car trips and maximize walking,
bike-riding and person-to-person interaction. It's compact land-use planning
at its best, including commercial, office, public, and recreational uses.
Will it work? To find out, Chesterfield Township commissioned a
first-of-its-kind traffic study, which indicated substantially fewer car
trips than equivalent development under existing zoning - making many of
those trips short enough to become walking trips. And the surrounding
communities of Chesterfield, Sykesville and Crosswicks? Village or hamlet
designations will help them maintain their historic character well into the
future, while benefiting from the new town center's amenities.
Creating a Positive Economic Impact
It's one thing to preserve farmland. Chesterfield plans to go one step
further by creating a demand for the business of agriculture. The town
center creates a mix of retail and service businesses that will provide
markets for local agricultural produce, providing opportunities in both farm
and non-farm employment. By 2020, the town center project will create an
estimated 457 new jobs in businesses that are commercially viable within the
village, keeping property taxes balanced for the projected 3,950 new
residents. Finally, the housing planned for the town center will create a
healthy and sustainable neighborhood, while helping the township to meet
affordable housing goals.


How Smart Growth Helped
The Chesterfield Town Center idea took root before the existence of the
State Plan - putting planners in the unique position to make "before and
after" comparisons. Previously on their own to contact state agencies and
navigate government agency paperwork and approvals, the State Plan suddenly
brought multiple state agencies together under common goals. The township
has enjoyed a close, ongoing working relationship with the Office of Smart
Growth. Also, the "town center" designation led to a state Smart Growth
grant. All of this effort is helping the township to encourage location of
commercially viable businesses into the town center. In Chesterfield, the
State Plan stands as testimony to sustainable development that encourages
economic prosperity while enhancing quality of life for New Jersey
residents.

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http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/osg/smart/success.html

 

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