MAJOR OVERHAUL OF STATE LAWS PROPOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND SMART GROWTH
A far-reaching legislative package titled the Smart Growth Economic Development Stimulus Act of 2008 will be offered by a broad coalition of developers and business leaders. The 12-bill legislative initiative cites the need for substantive incentives to get the economy moving in the right direction.

The 12-bill plan began two weeks ago with introduction of a proposal that would extend for six years all permits and approvals given developers by the state or local governments --- including those that have expired.

With 40 co-sponsors, the bill appears likely to pass the Assembly where it was introduced on May 21. Senate President Richard Codey says he favors the bill in concept but has not yet reviewed it.

The coalition’s package is to be offered in stages throughout the year.

In addition to the permits extension, other major bills would include extension of brownfields programs to smart-growth areas, expansion of the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Program, and a NJ Closing Fund for competitive incentives to businesses considering relocation to or expansion in New Jersey.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON PARKWAY AND ROUTE 78 LINK
Union Paving and Construction, Inc. will begin working on a $149 million project to complete the missing link between two of New Jersey’s busiest highways, the Garden State Parkway and Route 78. When work is completed in 3 ½ years, Parkway drivers traveling north or south will be able to exit onto Route 78 in either direction.

During the first phase, construction crews will build a long circular flyover ramp to connect the northbound Parkway and westbound Route 78. That work is scheduled for completion by September 2009.

After that, two years will be spent reconstructing the local and express lanes on a one-mile stretch of Route 78 near the Parkway interchange. The final phase will be done in summer and fall of 2011 with construction of a flyover ramp connecting the southbound Parkway and Route 78 eastbound.

TRENTON SEEKING TRAIN STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT
The City of Trenton seeks to develop a section anchored by the Trenton Train Station into an area of office towers, retail and housing on property now mostly covered by parking lots. If completed, the area within one-third of a mile from the recently renovated train station would have as many as three office towers, ground-level stores and nearly 600 new homes.

The development plans could be fueled by legislation signed by Governor Jon Corzine that would grant tax credits to urban development near transit facilities to some cities, including Trenton.

PLANSMART SPONSORING CONFERENCE ON NEW JERSEY’S FUTURE
PlanSmart NJ will sponsor a day-long statewide conference on Friday, June 13, at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. Titled “What No One is Telling You About the Future of New Jersey” it will offer insights about the opportunities and challenges for the state. Governor Jon Corzine will be the closing speaker with his vision for New Jersey.

Three national experts will speak: James Miller, Union of Concerned Scientists; Michael Gallis of North Caroline-based Gallis and Associates, and Roland Anglin of Initiative for Regional and Community Transformation. Each speaker will be followed by a response panel made up of New Jersey leaders.

To register, call (609) 393-9434 or on-line at www.plansmartnj.org.

GERMANY COMPANY OPENS MANUFACTURING SITE IN WOODBRIDGE
A German-based company, MAN Diesel North America, opened new industrial facilities at 2 Amboy Avenue, Woodbridge Township, announced Mayor John F. McCormac. The firm, an affiliate of Germany’s MAN AG, manufactures diesel engines for power-generating plants and for marine use.

MAN Diesel North America will use 42,000-square-feet of the site for its New York area service center.

BANK MOVING FROM MANHATTAN TO NEWARK GATEWAY CENTER
Brick City Development Corp., Newark’s economic development corporation, announced that Standard Chartered Bank will move 250 to 300 jobs from Manhattan to Newark’s Gateway Center.

The bank, which is part of London-based Standard Chartered Group, signed a lease to occupy 45,000-square feet of space in the Class A office tower.

SALE OF PARSIPPANY DEFENSE FIRM FOR $5.2 BILLION IS ANNOUNCED
DRS Technologies, Inc., of Parsippany will be purchased by Finmeccanica, S.p.A. of Rome for about $5.2 billion including assumption of $1.2 billion of debt. DRS, a defense contractor, has 10,000 employees worldwide and 650 in New Jersey. Finmeccanica designs and manufactures helicopters, civil and military aircraft and satellites.

If the deal is approved by stockholders and regulatory agencies, DRS says it will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica and plans to keep its Parsippany headquarters and management.

SITE FOR NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL ACQUIRED IN WESTWOOD
Hackensack University Medical Center and Touro University College of Medicine acquired for $45 million the site in Westwood formerly occupied by Pascack Valley Hospital. The 20-acre tract would be used to establish a new medical school to open in 2009.

Pascack Valley Hospital, a 251-bed acute care facility, filed for bankruptcy last fall. The sale was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Cushman & Wakefield handled the sale.

REMINDER --- BERGEN ALLIANCE TO HEAR NEWS ON XANADU
If you want to find out the latest on the massive XANADU development in the meadowlands, the place to be on Friday, June 6, is at a meeting of the Bergen County Alliance for Action. Chairman Carl J. Goldberg, of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority will give a presentation entitled: “XANADU – Full Speed Ahead.” Also on the program will be Robert. R. Ceberio, Executive Director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, and Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John Wisniewski, who also is Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.

Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. followed by the program at 9 a.m. in the Pegasus-Hambiltonian Room of the Meadowlands Race Track, East Rutherford.

To register, Go Here.

CAMDEN ALLIANCE TO HEAR REPORTS ON REVITALIZATION, ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
Camden’s City Revitalization and environmental and transportation infrastructure will be issues at a meeting of the Camden County Alliance for Action on Friday, June 27.

Business, labor and government leaders are expected to attend the meeting at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Route 70 west, Cherry Hill. Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. followed by the program at 9 a.m.

The speakers will include:
-Stephen Dragos, President of the Greater Camden Partnership on “Camden’s Revitalization Technology Focus.”
-Dennis Hart, Executive Director of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, on “Serving New Jersey.”
-Richard Crum, Director of Project Management for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, on “Delivering the Capital Program.”

Co-Chairs of the Camden Alliance are Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell of the Camden Board of Freeholders, and Nancy Myers, President, QWIC, Inc./Myers Construction Group.

To register, Go Here.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Priscilla P. Nelson, Provost of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), received the Kenneth R. Row Award from the American Association of Engineering Sciences for promoting unity among engineering societies.

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