Background on the New Jersey State Plan
The New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP), commonly known as the State Plan, is currently being updated to reflect contemporary planning priorities and best practices. This update is overseen by the New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy (OPA) and the State Planning Commission (SPC). The State Plan provides guidance on land use, transportation, housing, environmental protection and enhancement, economic development, public infrastructure, historic preservation, social justice, and adaptation to global climate change. Once adopted, State agencies implement the State Plan through their functional plans, investment priorities, and administrative rules, while local governments incorporate its objectives into their planning efforts. The State Plan is intended to guide and coordinate planning efforts, not to override existing local plans or regulations. The approved Draft Final State Plan was released on September 19, 2025.
State Plan Impact Assessment
Under the New Jersey State Planning Act, the release of a Draft Final State Plan triggers an Impact Assessment Study, which must be completed and publicly shared prior to the adoption of a Final State Plan. The assessment identifies potential changes or improvements to the Plan before it is finalized. The 2025 Impact Assessment of the New Jersey State Plan was jointly prepared by the Department of Geography, Planning & Sustainability at Rowan University and the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University. It was publicly released on August 8, 2025, with a review period open through December 3, 2025.
State Plan Infrastructure Needs Assessment
The State Planning Act also requires an Infrastructure Needs Assessment, which evaluates current and projected conditions, needs, and costs for State, county, and municipal capital facilities, including water, sewer, transportation, solid waste, drainage, flood and shore protection, and related infrastructure. The 2025 Infrastructure Needs Assessment was prepared by the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University and released as a draft on September 19, 2025, with a review period through December 3, 2025.
More information on the State Plan update is available at: https://www.nj.gov/state/bac/planning/state-plan/development/
More information on the Impact Assessment and Infrastructure Needs Assessment is available at: https://www.nj.gov/state/bac/planning/state-plan/assessment/