Camden, New Jersey has solidified its commitment to continued environmental and economic progress by adopting the Garden State’s first-ever sustainability ordinance. Passed by the Camden City Council on Tuesday, the ordinance had support from the many community groups that make up the Camden Green Team (of which Tri-State is an active member) along with support from prominent City leaders, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Cooper’s Ferry Partnership.

The Ordinance Adopting Sustainability Requirements for the City of Camden requires developers to submit an Environmental Impact and Benefit Assessment (EIBA) to be reviewed by the Camden City Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment before project approval. These agencies will then make a determination on the extent to which applicants can provide environmental and public health benefits as part of the proposed project.

The EIBA must address not only the impacts of proposed developments, but also identify opportunities: will the applicant’s proposal reduce traffic injuries, bolster health equity, provide opportunities for physical fitness and recreation, or reduce air and noise pollution? Development applicants will be provided with a guidance document for completing the assessment, as well as information on best practices in sustainable development.

The ordinance presents a tremendous opportunity to enhance the quality of non-motorized transportation in Camden. The City’s complete streets policy is explicitly referenced in the document and will be included among the materials applicants receive. Developers must address transportation-related questions such as:

• Does the proposed project include pedestrian signals and mid-street islands on busy streets?
• Does the proposed project include traffic calming road designs?
• Are open spaces (passive or active) or trails included in the design of the project?

The potential benefits of this ordinance are all the more significant as development pressure in the city continues to grow. A number of large scale projects, such as the new Subaru headquarters and Gateway development area, have shown a strong desire to incorporate active transportation, transit and other environmentally-friendly elements into their plans. This ordinance will complement ongoing efforts by the Circuit Coalition to connect multi-use trails, sidewalks and bike lanes with transit stations, centers of employment and the Ben Franklin Bridge, and thus help to ensure that Camden is able to grow in a way that improves the quality of life for current and future residents.