New Jersey Future and APA New Jersey to Host Gubernatorial Candidates at 2024 NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference

TRENTON, NJ—New Jersey Future and the NJ Chapter of the American Planning Association’s 2024 NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference, June 5-7, is a three-day hybrid conference—virtual June 5 and 6, in-person June 7 at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. At the June 7 luncheon plenary “NJ Votes 2025: Gubernatorial Candidates Roundtable” attendees will hear directly from four candidates from both parties as they share their positions on housing affordability, transportation and transit, and climate change, moderated by NJ Spotlight News anchor and award-winning journalist Briana Vannozzi. This session will be available to stream live online, in partnership with NJ Spotlight News and NJ PBS.

The NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference comprises over 35 sessions, focused on elevating best practices and achievements, while addressing challenges and hurdles planning professionals, developers, elected officials, and community leaders face in advancing smart growth and good urbanism in the nation’s most densely populated state.

WHEN:

• 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. virtually on Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6.
• 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick on Friday, June 7.

WHERE:

This is a hybrid event. On June 5 and 6, the sessions will be entirely virtual. On June 7, the sessions will be in-person only at Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ.

WHO:

Over 900 participants including:

• Four declared gubernatorial candidates: Ras Baraka (Mayor of Newark), Jon Bramnick (State Senator, NJ-21), Jack Ciatterelli (Frm. Assemblymember, NJ-16), and Steve Fulop (Mayor of Jersey City)
• Majora Carter, Urban Revitalization Strategist, (keynote speaker June 7)
• Olivia Glenn, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Equity, US EPA Region 2
• Jacquelyn Suarez, Commissioner, NJ Department of Community Affairs
• Tim Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Donna Rendeiro, Executive Director, State Planning Commission, New Jersey Office of State Planning
• Elizabeth Dragon, Assistant Commissioner, Community Investment and Economic Revitalization, NJ Department of Environmental Protection
• Alexander McClean, Chief Policy and Compliance Officer, Division of Affordable Housing, Jersey City
• Allison Ladd, Deputy Mayor/Director Economic and Housing Development, City of Newark
• Clinton Andrews, Professor of Urban Planning, Rutgers University/Bloustein/CUPR
• John Hasse, Ph.D. AICP, Professor, Director Geospatial Research Lab, Rowan University
• Representatives from key New Jersey institutions and organizations including: Sustainable Jersey, Regional Plan Association, Downtown New Jersey, American Institute of Architects, NJ Builders Association, Fair Share Housing Center, Rutgers University, Rowan University, and more.
• Representatives from city governments across the state, including: Asbury Park, Elizabeth, Franklin Township, Highland Park, Jersey City, Kearny, Newark, Paterson, Perth Amboy, Princeton, South Orange, and Westfield.

See the agenda for speaker times. View the full speaker list here.

Featured sessions include:

NJ Votes 2025: Gubernatorial Candidates Roundtable (June 7, 12:15–2:15 p.m.)

• Briana Vannozzi, Moderator, NJ Spotlight News Anchor and journalist
• Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark
• Jon Bramnick, State Senator, NJ-21
• Jack Ciatterelli, Frm. Assemblymember, NJ-16
• Steve Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City

New Jersey voters will elect a new Governor in November 2025. Now is the time to elevate the land use and planning issues that will define the strength of our communities and our state. Leading candidates from both parties will share their positions on housing affordability, transportation and transit, and climate change. Candidates will engage in a lively dialogue and make their case for a better New Jersey.

Mic Drop: The Preliminary State Plan is Finally Here (June 7, 10:45 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.)

• Angela Knowles, PP/AICP, Planning Consultant, APA New Jersey
• Donna Rendeiro, Executive Director, New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy
• John Hasse, Ph.D. AICP, Professor, Director Geospatial Research Lab, Rowan University
• Jon Carnegie, Executive Director, Voorhees Transportation Center
• Katrina McCarthy, Director, NJ MAP, Rowan University
• Peter Kasabach, Executive Director, New Jersey Future
• Tim Brill, Central Jersey Project Manager, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
• Jeffrey Oakman, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Phil Murphy

The wait is almost over, and here’s your chance to hear about the revised State Plan and ask questions before public hearings start across the state! Join this session, where the State Plan team of consultants will provide an overview of the updated plan, the infrastructure needs assessment, the new mapping protocols, and how the plan will be implemented and impact development decision-making at the state and local levels.

Housing Breakthroughs from Across the Nation (June 6, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.)

• Alyia Gaskins, Councilwoman, City of Alexandria, Virginia
• Chris Dorrington, Director, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
• Ethan Stuckmayer, Manager, Housing Division, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
• KayCee Downey, Planner II, City of Spokane, Washington
• Robert Steuteville, Senior Communications Advisor, Congress for the New Urbanism

New Jersey and many other parts of the country are experiencing a housing shortage, driving up rents and home prices and prompting many younger households to leave the state in search of cheaper housing elsewhere. Local development regulations are often the culprit, restricting the number and type of new units that can be built and denying entry to all but the wealthiest newcomers. Our panel of experts will discuss strategies from around the country, including some successes, that are aimed at removing planning, regulatory, and legal barriers and producing a wider variety of housing options.

Turning Vision to Reality: Creating the Inclusive Communities We Imagine (June 7, 9:00–10:30 a.m.)

• Majora Carter, Urban Revitalization Strategist

Join us as we delve into the complex interplay of equity and inclusivity in housing and community development initiatives. As a leading Urban Revitalization Strategist, Majora Carter will explore how these factors intersect and impact the design of our cities and neighborhoods. Learn innovative strategies that foster inclusive growth, mitigate displacement, preserve cultural identity, and empower communities to shape their own futures. This keynote address will inspire attendees to drive positive change in their communities while equipping them with the knowledge and tools to do so.