Historic Preservation plays a vibrant role in New Jersey communities by improving its quality of life. Municipalities can curb suburban sprawl, preserve open space, earn Sustainable Jersey points, and reduce their landfill waste by utilizing existing building stock. The 1975 Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL; N.J.S.A. 40:55 D-1, et seq.) first allowed an historic preservation element to be implemented as part of a Planning Board’s Master Plan. Historic Preservation Plan Elements typically identify local historic resources and the standards used to assess their significance, promote historic preservation as a tool for economic development and community revitalization, and set forth goals and strategies for municipal historic preservation policy. This session will provide proven regulatory expertise from public sector, private sector, and nonprofit perspectives; explain required contents and detailed examples of recent HP Elements of Master Plans; and present best practice guidance toward implementing the most effective planning protection for your town’s historic districts and significant landmarks. Municipalities that have undertaken this planning process consistently have greater community awareness, increased pride of place, lower crime rates, enhanced neighborhood identity, and broader investment dollars in heritage tourism.

Speakers:

• Anne Heasly, AICP, Program Manager, Policy and Planning, Sustainable Jersey
• Barton Ross, AIA, AICP, LEED AP, President of Barton Ross & Partners, LLC
• Andrea Tingey, Historic Preservation Specialist 3, New Jersey Historic Preservation Office
• Martin Schwartz, Mayor’s Designee to the Montclair Township Planning Board
• Courtenay D. Mercer, PP, AICP, Executive Director, Preservation New Jersey (Moderator)