Two towns seek Smart Growth grant

Staff Writer

By linda denicola

MILLSTONE — A resolution authorizing the township, along with Roosevelt Borough, to pursue a joint municipal Smart Growth Planning Grant was approved at the latest Millstone Township Committee meeting.

The state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) grant provides funding for local planning initiatives, which lead to more livable and sustainable communities.

Millstone and Roosevelt have collaborated before, said Committeeman Charles Abate. "We’ve been working for a number of years with local municipalities," he said, including providing municipal court service for Roosevelt.

Millstone and Roosevelt, along with Upper Freehold and Allentown, are also part of a panhandle task force studying school regionalization.

Abate added that the township applied for the Smart Growth Planning Grant last year, but the grant was denied.

According to the resolution, both towns face similar planning challenges, affecting the quality of life due to growing development pressures. Both municipalities would benefit from a shared approach to growth management, addressing land development issues and preservation efforts on an intermunicipal level.

The municipalities have prepared a Smart Growth Grant proposal and amendment to the DCA which seeks to draft a multijurisdictional growth management plan that will identify necessary infrastructure improvements required to provide for development and redevelopment efforts as well as promote environmental, natural, historic, cultural resource protection and farmland preservation in both communities.