State Provides Latest Set of Grants to Foster Solutions for Development Sprawl

TRENTON-As part of New Jersey’s ongoing efforts at growth management, the state’s Department of Community Affairs has handed out 16 grants totaling more than $1.3 million to help facilitate city and county efforts to combat suburban sprawl and over-development. The latest grants have been doled out to localities in Camden, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset Union and Warren counties. The new round of grants brings to $3.7 million the total spent to help planners on 27 municipal and 10 county proposals.

“The grants encourage towns and counties to deal with development issues in the planning phase, before they get to the building stage,” according to Community Affairs commissioner Jane Kenny.

Recent projects receiving grants are a revitalization plan for Elizabethport, Elizabeth; CBD revitalization in Kenilworth; commercial corridor redevelopment in Metuchen; and a regional center master plan update for Bridgewater, Raritan and Somerville.