2005 SMART GROWTH PLANNING

GRANTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES

Matching grants of up to $20,000 For New Jersey communities

Grants made possible through the generosity of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Morristown, NJ

The Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) is a statewide non-profit organization that informs and supports environmental commissions and other local boards and officials in their efforts to protect the environment and preserve quality of life in their towns.

Since 2002, with generous funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, ANJEC has been providing matching grants to New Jersey municipalities through its Smart Growth Planning Grant Program. Over the past three years, the program contributed more than $500,000 toward 46 local planning projects involving 45 municipalities.

The goal of the Smart Growth grant program is to promote local land use planning that reduces sprawl, creates efficient, walkable communities with sufficient open space and green infrastructure, and protects rural and environmentally sensitive areas so they can continue to perform their critical environmental and ecological functions.

Application deadline: April 1, 2005

ANJEC Smart Growth Planning Grants for Municipalities:

New Jersey’s municipalities want to be in control of their futures, and the key to control is good land use

planning. Whether anxious for growth or looking to discourage it, a municipality needs to examine its vision

for the future, assess its natural resources and open space, and amend its land use plans, zoning and ordinances

accordingly. The Smart Growth Planning program provides grants to help municipalities with the process of

comprehensive planning to create livable and environmentally sustainable communities.

Through the Smart Growth program, ANJEC will award 1-to-1 matching reimbursement grants of up to

$20,000 to municipalities for local or regional plans, ordinances, studies or document reviews that protect

natural resources and establish the land use patterns envisioned in the State Plan. Suitable projects include,

but are not limited to, the following:

- natural resource inventories (NRI);

- open space plans and preservation programs;

- master plan conservation elements;

- brownfields or revitalization plans that include new open space;

- bicycle/pedestrian network plans;

- capacity studies including build-out analysis, septic capacity and groundwater supply;

- master plan and zoning ordinance revisions that incorporate smart growth concepts including clustering, downzoning, conservation design and transfer of development rights (TDR).

(Grants are not intended to fund routine or miminum master plan tasks required by state law);

- critical areas protection ordinances for steep slopes, stream corridors, wellhead areas;

- planning tasks that help obtain Plan Endorsement from the State Planning Commission;

- planning that will achieve affordable housing within the municipality while protecting the environment;

- intermunicipal/regional plans to protect common resources (greenways, open space, etc.).

The grant and matching funds may be used to hire a consultant or firm to carry out project tasks, and may be

combined with other grants, if permitted under the terms of such other grant(s). Grant funds may not be used

for capital projects or the purchase of computers or software.

In-kind contributions by the municipality:

A municipality may provide up to 50% of its match through in-kind services, work performed on the grant

project by municipal volunteers and staff, such as participation at grant-related meetings, information gather-

ing, map or text development and review, publicity/public outreach activities, and preparation of reports.

For the purposes of this program, the municipality may count in-kind services at the following rates:

> professional staff (planner, attorney, engineer, town administrator) @ $30/ hour

> volunteers/commissioners/elected officials, office/administrative/public works staff @$15/ hour

Public outreach and participation:

Grant projects must include a process for involvement of the environmental commission in both the planning

and execution phases. Projects directly related to open space should include similar participation by the open

space committee, if one exists. To help assure community awareness and support of the plans and initiatives

financed by the grant program, each proposal must also include specific activities for public participation and

public outreach such as press releases, articles, surveys, public meetings and exhibits.

Who may apply?

To be eligible for this program, a municipality (or two or more municipalities applying together) must be in New

Jersey and have a functioning environmental commission, established by ordinance. For open space projects, towns

that do not have an environmental commission but do have an established open space committee may also apply.

Payment of grant funds to the municipality:

Grantee municipalities have one year to complete their projects, and must submit quarterly progress reports to

ANJEC. To obtain reimbursement, a town will need to complete all project tasks, provide a copy of the finished

grant product (plan, report, study, ordinances, etc.) to ANJEC, and submit a final report that summarizes the

project and documents expenditure of all funds (including in-kind services).

Application deadline:

Applications must arrive at ANJEC by 5pm, Friday, April 1, 2005. Submit two copies.

**Note that mailing and street addresses are different:

For US Mail delivery, use: ANJEC, PO Box 157, Mendham, NJ 07945

For courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) or hand delivery, use:

ANJEC, Morris County Cultural Center, 300 Mendham Rd., Morristown, NJ 07960

Notification of grantees:

Successful applicants will be notified of their awards by May 15, 2005.

For questions about the grant program:

Contact Kerry Miller - kmiller@anjec.org Phone: 973-539-7547 Fax: 973-539-7713

ANJEC Website: www.anjec.org

AN APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

o Completed application sheet (attached - also available on www.anjec.org).

o Narrative/Proposal - description of the project: what you will do, how you will do it, and

what the final product(s) will be (maximum 2 pages).

o Explanation of how the municipality will utilize the product(s) of the project as part of a

comprehensive effort to protect natural resources and work toward the goals of the State Plan

(maximum 1/2 page).

o Identify the project team, consultant and other key individuals, with titles.

o One-year Work Plan - schedule of tasks and who will complete them.

The work plan will form the basis of the grant agreement between the municipality and ANJEC, so

be specific about tasks and who will do them. Include a kickoff meeting with the project team and

consultant. Please use this format for the work plan:

Month 1 - Project team and consultant review and comment on ANJEC grant agreement;

agreement signed by Mayor and ANJEC;

Month 2 - Kickoff meeting with consultant and project team. ANJEC staff member invited.

EC develops newspaper article on project. Consultant begins data collection; etc.

o List of environmental commission members, with telephone numbers, and summary of the

commission’s and/or open space committee’s involvement in the project (max. 1 page).

o Description of public participation and public education activities for the project. How will

you build community support for its use or implementation? (max. 1/2 page)

o Itemized project budget, including hours/rates and activities for in-kind services.

o Governing body resolution indicating support for the project and guarantee of matching funds

(amount of matching funds, or a maximum (“up to...”), must be stated in the resolution).

o Letter of support from environmental commission/open space committee.

Attachments (optional — limit to 3 pages).

SUBMIT TWO COMPLETE COPIES OF THE APPLICATION TO ANJEC .

Please do not use plastic folders or other presentation devices -- simply staple the pages of

each application together. Double-sided copying saves paper!