New Jersey Future, New Jersey Builders Release New Guide to Green Stormwater Management

Developers’ Green Infrastructure Guide addresses basic questions about
green stormwater infrastructure and how to incorporate it most effectively

ATLANTIC CITY, April 18 At the Atlantic Builders’ Convention today, New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) jointly released a new Developers’ Green Infrastructure Guide. The guide is designed to help developers answer basic questions about green infrastructure, including what it is, how it works, what are its costs and benefits, and why it makes good business sense. It includes case studies, side-by-side site plan comparisons and interactive decision-making tools. At the Atlantic Builders’ Convention today, New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) jointly released a new Developers’ Green Infrastructure Guide. The guide is designed to help developers answer basic questions about green infrastructure, including what it is, how it works, what are its costs and benefits, and why it makes good business sense. It includes case studies, side-by-side site plan comparisons and interactive decision-making tools.

“Like all forward-thinking business people, the best developers need to understand the transforming marketplace, cutting-edge practices and how these new opportunities can affect their bottom line in both the short term and long term,” noted Peter Kasabach, New Jersey Future’s executive director. “It’s a win-win when new approaches produce better projects and better profits.”

The guide was developed in consultation with the Developers’ Green Infrastructure Task Force, a partnership of New Jersey Future and NJBA, and with advice and input from a review committee representing 11 developers including Toll Brothers, Bijou Properties, Woodmont Properties, Sharbell Building Company, Hoboken Brownstone Co., Walters Group, Conifer Realty, Pulte Group and Alliance Homes. It was prepared for New Jersey Future by the engineering firm AKRF.

“This GI Guide shows forward-thinking ideas supported by the development and academic members of our task force, and helps developers determine when and how green infrastructure is best deployed,” said George Vallone, president of The Hoboken Brownstone Company and chairman of the NJBA Board of Directors.

A critical piece of this puzzle is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which is working on several initiatives related to green infrastructure and is considering amendments to the stormwater management rule to incentivize its use. Vallone noted, “While we certainly appreciate the agency’s recognition of the importance of utilizing green infrastructure, NJ DEP must move forward on developing complementary regulations that will be necessary to incentivize and accelerate the use of these techniques.”

Because green stormwater infrastructure is a dynamic and evolving field, New Jersey Future and the Developers’ Green Infrastructure Task Force anticipate that this guide will be an evolving document, and will be accepting feedback for future updates.