2025 Sessions
Resilient Land and Water
in the President's Circle Room
State Development and Redevelopment Plan
Walter C. Lane: Acting Executive Director, New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy
The New Jersey State Planning Commission is currently updating the 2001 New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP). As part of this effort, Walter Lane, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Planning Advocacy will present an overview of the proposed SDRP as well as the status of the update process known as “Cross Acceptance”. The draft State Development and Redevelopment Plan is intended to be a guide to inform the public and encourage state agencies, counties, and municipalities to align their land use policies with its vision, the State Plan promotes a balanced and inclusive strategy for managing and guiding growth across the state. It is centered on 10 key priorities, including: economic development; housing; infrastructure; revitalization and re-centering; climate change; natural and water resources; pollution and environmental cleanup; historic and scenic resources; equity; and comprehensive planning.
Resilient Land and Water
in the Board Room
Deer Impacts on Forest Ecology
Joseph Basralian: Special Project Manager, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Deer play a vital role in forest food chains, but with the absence of natural predators and the continued development and fragmentation of New Jersey forests, greater populations of deer are forced into smaller and smaller areas. The resulting impacts of high-density deer populations on shrinking forest areas has caused a biodiversity crisis in New Jersey Forests. Learn about these impacts and possible solutions on how to balance healthy deer populations, community growth, and forest biodiversity.
Community Connections
in the Sitnick Theatre
Cultural, Spiritual and Aesthetic values of New Jersey's Water Resources
Elliott Ruga: Director of Policy and Communications, New Jersey Highlands Coalition
While the quantitative values of New Jersey's rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands can be measured in miles, acres and gallons, their cultural, spiritual and aesthetic values are far less often considered, especially when questions of development and economic growth arise. Yet, the significance of New Jersey's water resources