TRENTON, N.J. - Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin, joined by Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus, today announced six Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) demonstration projects across the state.

The TDR program is an innovative initiative to give local governments more control in guiding development in their areas. The demonstration projects will educate communities on how TDR works for various development and redevelopment needs.

“TDR is a good way to accommodate New Jersey’s growing populations without consuming all of our open space,” said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey.

“The state’s TDR demonstration programs provide communities with a powerful tool for redirecting growth from one area of a community to another,” Commissioner Levin added. “At its heart, the Transfer of Development Rights is an investment in our future, changing the way development occurs in a community by preserving open space and focusing development in the right places.”

Commissioner Levin today announced six demonstration projects across the state in Hopewell Township, Washington Township, Fanwood Borough, Berkeley Township, Montgomery Township and Woolwich Township. Please refer to the attached TDR Demonstration Factsheet for more information.

“Hopewell Township – which has one of the highest concentrations of agricultural lands in Cumberland County – was the first municipality in the county to apply to the Farmland Preservation Program for a planning incentive grant,” Secretary Kuperus said. “Under this grant, the township has set a goal to preserve up to 8,600 acres of farmland. This TDR demonstration project will help the township further its very ambitious and aggressive farmland preservation efforts.”

As part of its plan, Hopewell plans to transfer credits from agricultural lands to a greenfield area west of Bridgeton. The Township is currently undergoing several initiatives to preserve land, and plans to use TDR to bolster its planning efforts.

“We are fortunate DCA has approved two TDR projects in our district,” said State Senator Stephen M. Sweeney. “These projects are very important to Hopewell and Woolwich, and will allow the municipalities to preserve their open space and strengthen their planning efforts in areas that are fit for development.”

“Our municipalities are presented with obstacles of balancing open spaces in environmentally sensitive areas while also allowing smart development which will provide economic advancement in their towns, these projects allow them to accomplish these goals more efficiently,” added Assemblyman John Burzichelli.

“The approval of these projects are especially important to Hopewell and Woolwich Townships, they are growing everyday at rapid speed, and the TDR projects will give them more control over urban sprawl and they also reduce the amount of public funds that need to be dedicated to open space preservation,” said Assemblyman Douglas Fisher.

On March 29, 2004, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to make TDR available statewide through law. The State Transfer of Development Rights Act addresses the development issues our state faces while maintaining environmental integrity, preserving natural and historic resources, and strengthening the agricultural industry and cultural heritage of the Garden State.

TDR can be used in a variety of ways: as a tool for preserving open space or farmland, to preserve historic buildings and resources, and to transfer different types of development from one part of a town to another, or even from one community to another.

“TDR is a means for land preservation, a mechanism for satisfying the demands of population growth, and development while protecting the quality of life and environment in rural communities,” Hopewell Township Mayor Harold Bickings said.

Developers purchase development rights to build in a “receiving area” – an area that is targeted for growth. The funding is then used to permanently preserve land in a “sending area” – the open space, farmland, or historic resources – at no cost to taxpayers.

As a result, municipalities have more control over where growth occurs; landowners are compensated fairly for their property; developers have a clear picture of where they can build; and fewer public funds are spent on preservation.

The TDR Demonstration Projects are implemented through DCA’s Office of Smart Growth, which is leading the effort to promote sustainable development, protect the environment, preserve open space and revitalize older communities throughout New Jersey.

DCA is dedicated to making smart investments across the State, to create strong and vibrant communities where people want to raise families and build businesses. These investments support local governments, protect the environment, provide housing, advocate for women and minorities, and improve the quality of life for all New Jersey residents.