N.J. Admin. Code § 15:30-7.11 - Community visioning process, vision statement development and adoption, and submission requirements

(a) The petitioner shall perform a community visioning process designed to maximize involvement of the community and structured, so as to encourage consensus. The petitioner shall take efforts to engage socially vulnerable populations who have historically been underrepresented in these processes. The petitioner shall meet minimum requirements for conducting visioning sessions as set forth below and any additional agreed upon standards from the plan endorsement guidelines and related support materials, which may be called for, depending on individual circumstances. Community visioning shall engage the public through a variety of interactive technologies and media, including online means, social media, and posting of all workshops and hearings on the municipal website. Each step in which the public is invited to participate shall be widely promoted using each of the following promotional efforts, if available: notice on the official municipal, county, or regional entity's website; official social media page; articles in local newspapers and written materials posted in municipal buildings, schools, and local businesses; and by notice to the Office of Planning Advocacy. Findings of the visioning process shall be used to develop a vision statement for inclusion in the master plan. Minimum requirements for conducting a visioning process include:

1. At least two facilitated workshops consisting of interactive discussions with residents and other community stakeholders to identify the community's purpose, core values, and vision for a minimum 20-year horizon. At least one of the in-person workshops shall also be held virtually online to enhance and modernize more equitable public participation. The workshops shall be noticed in a legal advertisement, that satisfies the requirements at N.J.A.C. 15:30-1.7(j). At these workshops, a variety of materials relating to the community, such as maps, photos, and resource inventories, shall be made available for review and discussion. The petitioner or its advisory committee shall provide further notice of the workshops according to N.J.A.C. 15:30-1.7(f)3, and shall provide the following additional notice, to the extent available, at least 10 days in advance of the workshops: issuing a press release to local newspapers promoting the workshops, posting notice of the workshops on the official municipal website, and posting notice of the workshops in a conspicuous public place; and

2. At least two public hearings during the course of the visioning process in which a preliminary vision statement is vetted and discussed. At least one of the in-person public hearings shall also be accessible virtually to enhance and modernize more equitable public participation. The petitioner or advisory committee shall, at least 10 days in advance of said public hearings, issue a press release to local newspapers of the preliminary vision statement and post notice of the hearing on the official municipal website, if available, and in a conspicuous public place. The vision statement may be adopted as a part of the master plan. In this case, the hearings for such adoption shall be consistent with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., regarding adoption, revision, or amendment of a master plan.

(b) A vision statement of community consensus of its intended future shall be prepared using the information gathered in the visioning process.

(c) A summary report identifying actions taken to meet minimum and agreed upon additional requirements for performing the visioning process.

(d) Submission of the vision statement to the Office of Planning Advocacy as part of a petition for plan endorsement, which shall include the following:

1. Proof of public notice pursuant to N.J.A.C. 15:30-1.7(f) for all required public meetings and hearings in the form of an affidavit of publication and copies of electronic postings;

2. A certified resolution from the governing body, approving submission of the vision statement to the Office of Planning Advocacy;

3. Copies of materials used in the visioning process;

4. A copy of the summary report;

5. Copies of the meeting minutes of each public meeting and hearing at which the community vision was developed, reviewed and adopted. The minutes shall include a summary of public comments and copies of written comments filed before or during the public meeting or hearing; and

6. A copy of the vision statement.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 15:30-7.11

Amended and Recodified from N.J.S.A. 5:85-7.11 by 56 N.J.R. 41(b), effective 1/2/2024