Smart Growth Awards Program

HUDSON COUNTY PLANNING BOARD February 25, 2019

Smart Growth Awards

Message from the Chairman: The Hudson County Planning Board is pleased to announce its Smart Growth Awards. Between 2016 and 2018 the Board heard applications for many noteworthy projects featuring innovative site design and effective green infrastructure. The Division of Planning compiled a list of projects that were approved by the Planning Board and evaluated them based on site selection, site design and proposed green infrastructure practices from a number of sources including the American Planning Association, the U.S. Green Building Council, NJ Future, New Jersey Builders Association, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Smart Growth America, and the U.S E.P.A. Considerations of project awards included: sites that preserved existing resources and repaired damaged systems, projects that promoted energy efficiency, projects that utilized green infrastructure for stormwater management, projects that included natural landscaping with native vegetation, and sites that were walkable and promoted public transit.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

Sincerely,

Daniel Choffo, Hudson County Planning Board

GOLD AWARD 8-12 Paterson Avenue City of Hoboken

The Hudson County Division of Planning recommends 8-12 Paterson Avenue in Hoboken to receive the Smart Growth Gold Award. The 8-12 Paterson Avenue building is a 5-story building with 930 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space and 12 residential units above. It will be a mixed use development in a walkable area and will include parking for 16 bicycles, as well as electric vehicle charging stations. The site will also feature an underground stormwater detention basin below the parking lot, native landscaping in the front and rear of the site, and the applicant will plant an extra shade tree on Paterson Avenue.

Finally, the building will be fully covered by a green roof.

SILVER AWARD 6723 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Township of North Bergen

The Hudson County Division of Planning recommends 6723 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen to receive the Smart Growth Silver Award. The building will have 51 onebedroom apartments as well as three office spaces with a total of 2,972 sq. ft. The project will incorporate several sustainable design features, including 3,200 sq. ft. of green roof space with a storm water tank to harvest rain water which will be used to provide water for the toilets in the bathrooms of the residential apartments and offices. Permeable pavements will be installed throughout the site to allow for the percolation of stormwater into the ground. The site also features native landscaping in the front, side, and rear of the building, as well as parking with for 48 bicycles.

BRONZE AWARD High Tech High School Town of Secaucus

The Hudson County Division of Planning recommends the New High Tech High School in Secaucus for the Smart Growth Bronze Award. Developed by the Hudson County Improvement Authority and located at the end of Paul Amico Way adjacent to Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, the state-of-the-art New High Tech High School includes numerous innovative sustainable features throughout its campus, including native landscaping and a rain garden. The school building includes a rainwater cistern, wind turbines, and solar panels on the roof, with additional green roof areas. Parking for 24 bicycles is also included.

AWARD FOR SMART GROWTH LEADERSHIP Honorable James M. Davis Mayor of Bayonne The Hudson County Division of Planning recommends the Honorable James M. Davis to receive the Peter B. Higgins, III Award for Smart Growth Leadership. Mayor Davis is currently serving his second term as the Mayor of Bayonne, a position he has held since July 2014. He has led his administration to grow and redevelop the City in a smart, sustainable manner to enhance the quality of life for all of Bayonne’s residents.

Bayonne adopted a new Master Plan Re-Examination Report in 2017, which prioritizes sustainable design and smart growth principles. The City has adopted several redevelopment plans that take advantage of the Light Rail to create pedestrian friendly, mixed-use transit villages.

SMART GROWTH PLANNING AND POLICY AWARD Green Building and Environmental Sustainability Element, City of Hoboken Master Plan The Hudson County Division of Planning recommends the City of Hoboken for the Smart Growth Planning and Policy Award for their Green Building and Environmental Sustainability Element of the City of Hoboken Master Plan. Facing growing environmental challenges and the effects of climate change, the City of Hoboken took the initiative to engage these issues with a dynamic planning effort. The Green Building and Environmental Sustainability Element establishes the vision that “a sustainable and resilient Hoboken will be an environmentally, socially, and economically healthy community that allows future generations of residents to meet and exceed our quality of life.�

HON. THOMAS A. DeGISE, County Executive

HUDSON COUNTY PLANNING BOARD

ABRAHAM ANTUN, County Administrator

DANIEL CHOFFO, Chairman

CRAIG GUY, Chief of Staff

SAMANTHA LUGO, Vice-Chair RUSHABH MEHTA, Pro-Tempore

THOMAS A. DeLEO, Director, Dept. of Parks & Community Services

HON. JERRY WALKER, Freeholder

SHARHONDA R. WALKER, Deputy Director, Dept. of Parks & Community Services

RENEE BETTINGER, Commissioner

FRANCESCA GIARRATANA, PP, AICP, Division Chief, Div. of Planning

FLOYD JETER, Commissioner

HON. JOEL TORRES, Freeholder

JAMES CRYAN, Commissioner

KENNEDY NG, Alternate #1 ELIZABETH HERNANDEZ, Alternate #2

BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

THOMAS MALAVASI, PE, PP, CME, County Engineer

HON. ANTHONY P. VAINIERI, JR., Chairman

JOHN J. CURLEY, Esq., Board Attorney

HON. WILLIAM O’DEA, Vice Chairman

FRANCESCA GIARRATANA, PP, AICP, Board Secretary

HON. ANTHONY ROMANO, JR, Pro-Tempore

KEVIN FORCE, PP, AICP, Principal Planner

HON. ALBERT J. CIFELLI

STEPHANIE LEE, Assistant Planner

HON. KENNETH KOPACZ HON. TILO RIVAS

MARIO TRIDENTE, Inspector

HON. CARIDAD RODRIGUEZ HON. JOEL TORRES HON. JERRY WALKER Images and renderings credited to project teams.

Prepared by Samuel Schroeder, H.C. Division of Planning