Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DCA to establish certification courses for planning professionals on development of warehouses and high density buildings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing certification courses for planning professionals and supplementing chapter 55 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Within 120 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the legislature as this bill), the Department of Community Affairs shall develop and offer optional certification courses to planning professionals and other interested individuals on current topics and issues relating to the development of warehouses and high density buildings.
b. The certification courses offered pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall:
(1) be developed in conjunction with institutions of higher education, the State Planning Commission, and non-profit organizations representing planning associations including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Association of Planning and Zoning Administrators, the New Jersey Planning Officials, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, the New Jersey Association of Counties, and the New Jersey Builders Association, to establish standards for the curriculum, including content and materials, and administration of the courses; and
(2) include modules specifically on warehouse development and high-density development; and
c. Completion of the certification courses offered pursuant to this section by individuals subject to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.2005, c.133 (C.40:55D-23.3), shall not be construed as fulfilling the land use law and planning course requirement of that section.
d. The Department of Community Affairs shall issue a certificate of completion to a planning professional who completes the certification courses offered pursuant this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish certification courses for planning professionals on the development of warehouses and high-density buildings.
The bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to develop and offer optional certification courses for planning professionals on current topics and issues relating to the development of warehouses and high density buildings. The courses are to be developed in conjunction with institutions of higher education, the State Planning Commission, and non-profit organizations representing planning associations and include modules specifically on warehouse development and high-density development.
Additionally, the bill specifies that these optional courses offered to planning professionals do not meet the land use law and planning course requirement for planning board and zoning board members required pursuant to the “Municipal Land Use Law.”
Local planners are crucial in leading a community in its development and implementation of the Master Plan. It is the sponsor’s intent to give planners additional tools to provide leadership to their communities. Warehouse construction has become a leading concern among both the public and local government officials. Many communities feel overwhelmed by the size and consequences of high-density development. Providing planning professionals with greater and up to date information will better allow them to serve their communities and local officials.