Office of Planning Advocacy (formerly Office of Smart Growth) – Trenton, NJ

About the Office of Planning Advocacy

The Office of Planning Advocacy (OPA), formerly known as the Office of Smart Growth, acts as the secretariat for the State Planning Commission and is the primary state entity responsible for implementing the State Development and Redevelopment Plan. Now operating within the Department of State’s Business Action Center, the OPA coordinates statewide planning to protect the environment and guide future growth into compact, mixed-use development centers. Its mission is to facilitate cooperation between state agencies, local governments, and the private sector to achieve comprehensive, long-term planning goals that spur economic development while preserving New Jersey’s natural resources. The Office manages the Plan Endorsement process, which allows municipalities to align their local master plans with the State Plan for priority access to state funding and streamlined regulatory reviews. 🗺️

Key Programs and Services

The OPA oversees several critical initiatives designed to promote smart growth:

• State Planning Commission: The OPA provides staff support to this body, which is responsible for adopting the State Development and Redevelopment Plan and the State Plan Policy Map.
• Plan Endorsement: A voluntary review process where municipalities and counties can have their local plans officially endorsed by the State Planning Commission, unlocking incentives and regulatory benefits.
• Brownfields Redevelopment: Coordinating the Brownfields Redevelopment Task Force to identify and market sites for remediation and reuse, transforming liabilities into economic assets.
• Smart Growth Mapping: Maintaining the interactive NJ Smart Growth Explorer tool and the State Plan Policy Map, which delineates planning areas (e.g., Metropolitan, Environmentally Sensitive) and designated centers.

Location and Access

The Office is located on the 3rd floor of 225 West State Street in Trenton, a short distance from the State House.

• Public Transit: The office is accessible via the Trenton Transit Center (NJ Transit, SEPTA, Amtrak) and local bus routes stopping along West State Street.
• Parking: Visitor parking is generally available in nearby commercial garages or metered street parking spots.