Discovery Phase Workshop Results

Connecting People, Places, and Potential.1

Discovery Phase Workshop Results

Table of Contents

• RPSD Planning Process• Standing Committee S.W.O.T. Exercise • Discovery Workshop Overview• Discovery Workshop Results

– Polling: Shared Values – Listen and Learn: Like and Change Results – Polling: Planning Goals and Objectives– Polling: Demographics

2

RPSD Planning Process

3

Discovery

Where are we now and where are we heading?

Existing Conditions & Current Trends

Issues and Challenges

Opportunities & Strengths

Shared Values & Common Interests

Visioning

Where do we want to go?

Priority Goals & Objectives

Preferred Future Growth Scenario

Action Planning

How do we get there?

Strategies & Actions

Priority Projects & Initiatives

Resources & Responsibilities

Implementation Timeline

STANDING COMMITTEE S.W.O.T. EXERCISE

Planning Together for our Future

4

Standing Committee S.W.O.T. Exercise On September 25, 2012, TNJ held a Standing Committee meeting to kick-off the Discovery Phase of the RPSD planning process.

A portion of that meeting was devoted to putting together a S.W.O.T. analysis. The findings from that session are presented on the following slides.

5

Challenges & Threats• Economic Competitiveness

– Stagnant/uneven job growth and worker/jobs skills gap– Aging infrastructure– Home rule & conflicting government priorities

• Livability & Environment– Chase for “ratables” leads to poor land use decisions– Housing costs are high– Lack of sustainable funding for public infrastructure (transportation,

power, water, sewer, parks) maintenance and upgrades and open space/farmland preservation

• Society & Community– Disparities in school performance– Public health disparities by race and place – High cost structure is “pricing out” arts & culture

6

Strengths & Opportunities• Economic Competitiveness

– Location and infrastructure networks– Institutions of higher education– High quality of life– Changing market preferences

• Livability & Environment– Market demand for amenity-rich, transit-oriented, walkable places– Land and buildings available for redevelopment– Existing public transit network and services

• Society & Community– Many high performing school districts– Growing understanding of the built environment’s impact on health– Arts & culture increasingly used as an economic development strategy

7

Desired Long-term Outcomes• Economic Competitiveness

– Sustained job growth & economic investment– Continued high quality of life– Increased economic resilience

• Livability & Environment– Greater share of new development in walkable, transit-served locations– Improved transportation connections (roads, sidewalks and transit)– A network of high-quality natural, agricultural and recreational lands is

protected– Communities are more resilient to extreme weather events

• Society & Community– Reduced disparity in school performance– Reduced health disparities– Growing/thriving arts community region-wide

8

DISCOVERY WORKSHOP OVERVIEW


9

Public Outreach Workshops: Overview• 14 workshops• 550 +/- participants

– Residents– Business Owners– Local officials– Other stakeholders

• Three activities:– Like & Change– Priority Goals & Objectives – Shared values polling

10

DISCOVERY WORKSHOP RESULTS


11

Discovery Workshop Polling Results

This section combines the results from the Discovery Phase Workshops held between March and May 2013.

Audiences were asked to provide their input for questions using an electronic clicker.

The first two slides present a summary of shared values, followed by detailed findings.

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Shared values…• Personal Growth and Well-being– Being healthy and taking care of yourself (45%)– Volunteering and giving back to community (25%)

• Family– Having time to spend together (55%)– Making time for recreational and cultural activities

together (22%)• Community– Having good neighbors and being a good neighbor (37%)– Feeling a sense of community (28%)

13

Shared values…• Education– Having opportunities to keep learning all through life (46%)– Having quality neighborhood schools (36%)

• Nature– Taking good care of our air, water and natural lands (57%)– Having green space nearby (22%)

• Safety & Security– Having safe neighborhoods (33%)– Peace of mind about the future (32%)– Having a well-paying job (20%)

14

What aspect of Personal Growth and Well-Being is most important to you?

Being healthy a

nd takin

g care of y

ourself

Being close to

nature

Volunteering and givi

ng back to yo

ur community

Spirit

uality and re

ligion

None of the above

Prefer not to

answer

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50% 45%

9%

26%14%

5% 1%

What aspect of Family is most important to you?

0%10%20%30%40%50%60% 55%

14%23%

6% 2%

What aspect of Community is most important to you?

Feelin

g a se

nse of c

ommunity

Having c

ommunity-sp

onsored

activiti

es to go

to

Living in

a dive

rse co

mmunity

Having g

ood neighbors

and bein

g a go

od neighbor

Being s

elf-re

liant a

nd left alo

ne

None of th

e above

Prefer

not to an

swer

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

28%

9% 11%

38%

11%

3% 0%

What aspect of Education is most important to you?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%37%

9%

47%

6%1%

What aspect of Nature is most important to you?

Having green space nearby

Taking good care of our air

Protecting wildlife habitat

None of the above Prefer not to answer0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

23%

60%

8% 8%

1%

What aspect of Safety and Security is most important to you?

Having a good payin

g job

Having Sa

fe neighborhoods

Fewer t

raffic-related acci

dents

Peace of m

ind about the fu

ture

None of the above

Prefer not to

answer

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

21%

34%

4%

33%

7%1%

How should the region spend transportation dollars?

Fixing u

nsafe b

ridge

s

Building m

ore high

ways

Making e

xisting h

ighways

work bett

er

Expan

ding tran

sit ser

vice

Making e

xisting t

ransit

work bett

er

Making it

easie

r to tra

nsport g

oods and m

ateria

ls aro

und the r

egion

Using t

echnology

to im

prove

transp

ortation

Supporti

ng more

carpoolin

g and sh

uttles

Making o

ur road

s safe

r

Making it

easie

r to walk

and bike

where

we need

to go

0%

4%

8%

12%

16%

20%

13%

2%

15%19%

12%

5%9%

4%8%

15%

What sources of funds should be used to support transportation?

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%

10%

29%

5% 2%

12% 9%

24%

9%1%

LISTEN & LEARNPlanning Together for our Future

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Listen and Learn ResultsAudiences were asked to have small-group conversations about their communities and submit written responses to six questions: • What do you like about where you live?• What do you want to change about where you live?• What do you like about where you work?• What do you want to change about where you work?• What do you like about how you get around?• What do you want to change about how you get around?

Participants were invited to submit open-ended responses. Those results were then simplified into themed categories.

The following slides contain a summary of findings by theme, followed by the top fifteen results for each question.

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Economic Competiveness Like…• Entrepreneurship and small

businesses• Having a diversity of job

opportunities• Access to well-paying jobs

Change…• Reduce taxes• Create more jobs and more

higher-paying jobs• Increase the diversity of job

opportunities• Attract more businesses in

downtown areas

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What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…

Livability & EnvironmentLike…• Community/neighborhood

character (Rural places, Small Towns and Cities)

• Ability to walk and bike places

• Good road/highway access and light traffic

• Access to public transit; open space, parks & recreation; and shopping/services nearby

• Proximity to New York City (and beaches in Monmouth & Ocean)

Change…• Encourage a greater diversity of

businesses and services in downtown areas

• Create more affordable housing options

• Make it easier and safer to walk and bike places

• Increase availability of public transit & improve the frequency/quality of services

• Improve transportation “connections” (roads & transit) and reduce traffic congestion26


Society & CommunityLike…

• Low crime and safe neighborhoods

Change…

• Improve public safety, especially in cities

27


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What do you LIKE about where you LIVE?Response NumberAccess to open space 94Rural community character 69Livability / walkability of community 65General Community character 60Ability to walk and/or bike to places 55Low crime & safe neighborhoods 54Access to public transportation options 44Proximity or general accessibility to locations 41Access to shopping and services nearby 38Small Town community character 35Quality schools 32Visual appeal and aesthetics 30Access to recreational opportunities 28Proximity / easy access to New York City 27Downtown shopping areas and "Main Streets" 26

“Number” indicates instances of response appearing. Each respondent could make multiple statements.

29


What do you want to CHANGE about where you LIVE?Response NumberNeed to reduce taxes 57Need more local public transit options 49Need to make it easier and safer to walk and bike places 46Need to lower crime 46Need more vibrant downtowns with greater diversity of businesses & services 42Need more regional transit options 41Need to reduce traffic and congestion 39Need more affordable housing options 37Need to improve transportation connectivity (roads and transit) 36Need to support entrepreneurship to create more businesses 35Need a greater diversity of housing options 30Need to improve the frequency, safety and quality of transit options 27Need better access to parks and open space 26Need to improve infrastructure 25More local government control 21


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What do you LIKE about where you WORK?Response NumberTransportation - general 62Proximity to home 57Job specific reason 43Amenities nearby 43Diversity of job opportunities 33Town setting 30General location 28Opportunities to be self-employed 25Easy commute - transit 24Walkable location 23Proximity / easy access to New York City 22Local hub / cluster, proximity to clients 22Independently owned shops and businesses 19High-paying jobs nearby 17Nature / parks nearby and waterfront 16


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What do you want to CHANGE about where you WORK?Response NumberToo few jobs / bad economy 73Transit (General) 42Need less bureaucracy, regulation. Change politics. 38Need to attract more business 35Accessibility (general) 34Need higher paying jobs 33Too much traffic and congestion 30Need more job training / workforce training opportunities 26Need to reduce taxes 24Job specific changes 23Difficulty walking or biking to work 23Need more entrepreneurship 21Business environment too expensive, insurance, rent too high 21Work too far from home 17Need more amenities by work 15


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What do you LIKE about how you GET AROUND?Response NumberEasy driving commute 92Transit accessibility 88Easy walking or biking commute 57Multiple transit options (bus or train, many lines) 41Choice between driving or transit available 35General location 32Everything is close 30Highways and major roads 27Proximity / easy access to New York City 25Views, aesthetics, open space 23Minor and back roads 20Proximity to home 16Independence 10Nothing 7Safety 5


33


What do you want to CHANGE about how you GET AROUND?

Response NumberLack of transit 154Too much traffic and congestion 97Cycling is unsafe 55Walking is unsafe 45Transit does not connect towns 40Need to improve transit schedules 33Need to reduce taxes 32Need more road maintenance 29Safety 25Everything is far / places not accessible 20Parking is scarce, hard, expensive 17New York City is inconvenient 13Tolls and gas are too high 13Transit facilities are poor 12Transit is too slow 11


PLANNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVESPlanning Together for our Future

34

Planning Goal and Objectives Results

Participants were then asked to rank planning goals, using the electronic clickers.

Those results are presented in the following slides.

35

Which planning goals and objectives are most important…

Prioritized List of Regional Planning Goals (Weighted Score)

1. Strengthen the region’s economy (1586)2. Improve everyone’s access to opportunity (1296)3. Ensure communities are safe, healthy and great

places to live (1062)4. Enhance efficiency and conserve land (951)5. Protect and enhance the environment (908)

36

Prioritized List of Regional Planning Objectives (Weighted Score)

1. Keep and create well-paying jobs (655)2. Ensure infrastructure is in good repair and can support

economic development (649)3. Connect where people live with where they need to go (591)4. Maintain/expand vibrant downtowns and main streets (371)5. Create safe, stable neighborhoods w/high quality housing

(357)6. Maintain and improve the quality of schools (356)7. Encourage development of compact neighborhoods with a mix

of housing, shopping and services (327)8. Preserve open space and natural areas (269)37


9. Increase investment near existing housing, jobs and infrastructure (253)

10. Preserve & enhance the character of existing downtowns and neighborhoods (242)

11. Increase the economy’s ability to adapt to change (187)12. Create inclusive, mixed income neighborhoods (185)13. Reduce combined transportation and housing costs (164)14. Improve access to community resources such as libraries,

senior centers, and youth activities (144)15. Reduce potential impacts of climate change (138)

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16. Increase ability to respond to and recover from extreme weather events (127)

17. Ensure adequate water supply (125)18. Improve access to parks and recreational opportunities (112)19. Improve public health (108)20. Improve access to cultural resources (99)21. Increase regional economic self-sufficiency (95)22. Direct development away from environmentally sensitive

areas (89)23. Improve water quality (51)24. Preserve wildlife habitat (37)39

Goal 6: Address regional growth issues in a coordinated way 1. Ensure a broad cross-section of residents, businesses and local

government leaders are engaged in the planning process, including populations traditionally under-represented in regional planning processes (120 votes)

2. Protect property rights during planning & implementation (71)3. Foster collaboration between Federal, State, County and local

government to address regional growth issues (70)4. Provide a regional framework for making decisions about

capital investments, programs, regulations and major development applications (54)

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Goal 6: Address regional growth issues in a coordinated way 5. Align existing plans, programs and regulations at all levels of

government (31)6. Maintain, up-to-date, coordinated local, regional, and State

functional plans that reflect Together North Jersey regional planning goals and objectives (27)

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What we heard was missing…• Support small businesses and entrepreneurship • Support farmland preservation and agricultural businesses in appropriate

locations (both rural and urban)• Enhance workforce preparedness and expand training opportunities• Improve and expand existing public transportation options• Encourage transit-oriented development • Make it easier and safer to walk and bike places• Expand access to diverse housing options for all income groups• Reduce taxes and regulations and reform the property tax system• Encourage the use of shared services to improve government efficiency

• Also a variety of place-specific strategies and local project ideas

42

DISCOVERY WORKSHOP POLLING DEMOGRAPHICS WITH REGIONAL COMPARISONS


43

Which group best describes your age?

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

Under 25 25-34 35-44 45-64 65-74 75 years and older

Prefer not to answer

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

4%9%

14%

47%

17%

5%3%

32%

13% 14%

27%

7% 7%

Workshops Region

What is your household size?


1 person household 2 person household 3 person household 4 or more person households

Prefer not to answer0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

17%

40%

17%

22%

5%

25%29%

17%

28%

Workshops Region

How many persons in your household are under the age of 18?


One (1) Two (2) Three (3) Four or more (4+) None Prefer not to answer

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

9% 8% 5% 2%

71%

4%

15% 13%

5% 2%

65%

Workshops Region

How many persons in your household are over the age of 65?


One (1) One or More (Region Only)

Two (2) Three (3) Four or more (4+)

None Prefer not to answer

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

27%

73%

Workshops Region

How would you describe the community in which you live?

City Small town Suburban township

Rural township Vacation / Resort community

None of the above


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

27%24%

29%

10%

5%4%

1%

How long have you lived in your current neighborhood?

Less than a year 1-3 years 4-10 years 11-20 years 20+ years I do not live in Northern NJ


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

5%8%

15%

22%

46%

1%3%

Do you rent or own your home?

50

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census (Occupied Units)

Rent Own Residence is provided by others

Prefer not to answer 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

19%

75%

3% 4%

37%

63%

Workshops Region

How many vehicles are kept at your home for your household's use?

51

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census(vehicles available for occupied housing units)

No vehicles 1 vehicle 2 vehicles 3+ vehicles Prefer not to answer0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

9%

29%

38%

20%

4%

12%

35% 36%

17%

Workshops Region

Are you…?

52


Male Female Other Prefer not to answer 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

49%45%

3% 3%

49%51%

Workshops Region

What race or ethnicity best describes you?

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census(“More than One Race” also include “Other” and “Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander”)

White, N

ot Hisp

anic

Black, Not H

ispanic

White, H

ispanic

Black, Hisp

anic

Asian Americ

an

Native Americ

an

More than O

ne Race

Prefer not to

answer

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70% 66%

10% 7%1% 2% 1% 5% 8%

57%

12% 11%

1%9%

0%10%

Workshop Region

What is your household income?

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 ACS

$0 - $24,999 $25,000 - $49,999

$50,000 - $74,999

$75,000 - $100,000

$101,000 - $150,000

More than $150,000


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

6%

11%

16% 16%

19%17%

14%17%

19%16%

13%

18% 17%

Workshops Region

What is the highest degree or level of school completed?

55

High School o

r Less

Some Colle

ge

Associa

te's Degree (A

A, AS)

Bachelor's

Degree (BA, B

S)

Graduate or Professi

onal Degree

Prefer not to

answer

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

5% 8%4%

32%

45%

4%

41%

16%

6%

23%

14%

Workshops RegionData Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 ACS

How did you hear about tonight's meeting?

56

Together North

Jerse

y email /

websit

e

NJTPA email / w

ebsite

County / c

ity email /

websit

e

Print n

ewspaper

Online newspaper

Community group or o

rganization

Family

Flyer p

osted at li

braryOther

Prefer not to

answer

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%1%

12%

17%

2%

15%

3%

For More Information:

57

Jon Carnegie, AICP/PPProject Director

TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY

Executive DirectorAlan M. Voorhees Transportation Center

Bloustein School of Planning and Public PolicyRutgers, The State University of New Jersey

33 Livingston AvenueNew Brunswick, NJ 08901

PH: (848) 932-2840FAX: (732) 932-3714

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.togethernorthjersey.com/

Discovery Phase Workshop Results

Documents

planning goals

discovery phase workshops

shared valuespersonal

summary of shared values

standing committee meeting

change results polling

place high cost structure

transita network of