NJ Appleseed: Embedding Sustainable Development & Land Use into Public Policy – March 23, 2015

CRCS and New Jersey PACE Executive Director Jonathan Cloud will be one of the speakers at the NJ Appleseed event on “Embedding Sustainable Development & Land Use into Public Policy” on March 23 at Seton Hall Law School in Newark, NJ. The day-long event, featuring Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop along with a line-up of other prominent speakers, will address a variety of timely issues related to sustainable development in New Jersey:

Development in New Jersey is a hot-button issue, with strong feelings on both sides. Some believe it is out of control, and cite strip malls springing up almost overnight, and mass numbers of townhomes covering the once-pristine suburban hillsides. Others argue that development brings jobs and other tangible benefits, and is key to the State’s economic future. Like it or not, development in New Jersey is here to stay. But can development be a force for good? Can we lessen the environmental impact, or better yet, reinforce overall sustainability and resiliency in New Jersey communities, create more affordable homes for our citizens, and stabilize neighborhoods? At this New Jersey Appleseed Public Policy Forum we will explore efficient and ethical land use policies, discuss private sector concerns and ways to address opposition, focus on how implementing ‘green’ can impact the bottom line, look at the ways that affordable housing can help create sustainable, safe, and strong communities, and examine strategies to reduce risk from new policies, among other important issues.

Along with Dr. Jeana Wirtenberg of Transitioning to Green, Cloud will be addressing “It’s the Economy Stupid: Private Sector Concerns & How Implementing ‘Green’ Impacts the Bottom Line”:

Citizens in the tri-state area have clearly come to embrace sustainability in all types of construction and development from individual property retro-fittings to large scale new development projects. What was initially viewed as not cost-effective has, through proper planning and savvy marketing, become the desirable norm. Studies have clearly demonstrated that sustainable development can be as cost-efficient as non-sustainable projects. In a strong real estate market business leaders can embrace sustainability and accept stronger sustainable regulations being adopted in zoning and land use ordinances, but what about during the leaner times?With apprehension about market risk and basic cost concerns visible in the rear view mirror, many in the private sector are turning their attention to concerns about environmental regulation, including President Obama’s proposal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and spur increased investments in clean energy technology. Although the proposal is currently stalled in Washington, how is private industry preparing or not, for climate change related regulation that may become law in the foreseeable future?

For more information and to register, visit http://njappleseed.org/events/embeddingsustainable/

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