Investing in Land

In recent weeks, news from both the East Coast and West Coast have strengthened the relationship between sustainable development and the future.

In Bordentown, New Jersey, the just-released land use plan flows from its commitment “To promote the orderly growth of lands within the City of Bordentown, taking into consideration the character of each district and its peculiar suitability for particular land uses, to generally encourage the most appropriate use of land through the police power, and to promote sustainable and orderly growth.”

In reporting on the plan, updated every five-to-six years, the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger noted that “Perhaps the biggest changes to the plan were the removal of the terms ‘transit village’ and ‘redevelopment area.’ The result will be less emphasis on new, denser development within the historic, riverfront city that is home to about 4,000.”  This will clearly put more emphasis on outward development to accommodate growth without affecting the character of the town.

The character of the city is also a big part of an announcement made by the A.G. Spanos development company about its plans in Stockton, California, about 50 miles east of San Francisco.

The Company said it intends to create “The Preserve, a new community that will be a model for environmentally and economically sustainable development. The Preserve will generate a $2 billion investment, attract new businesses to Stockton, create new jobs, add a new community hospital, reduce reliance on automobiles, and is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to typical developments.”

In each case, one big, one small; one on the East Coast, one on the West; and one driven by government, the other by the private sector; the mission is the same — creating a sustainable land-use future.