Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the first in a series of five County-sponsored public meetings in support of Together North Jersey, a voluntary initiative aimed at improving quality of life while fostering sustainable economic growth in the region.
The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at Kean University. Space is limited and pre-registration is required by emailing Union County at TNJIntern@ucnj.org.
“These public meetings are aimed at gathering insights from Union County residents who have the life experiences, the ideas and the aspirations that form the basis of a strong community,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “I encourage anyone with an interest in sustainable development to participate.”
Together North Jersey is a voluntary partnership of public agencies and non-profit institutions working to develop a regional plan for sustainable development encompassing Union County and the surrounding area.
The effort is part of a national sustainable planning initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In New Jersey, these funds are administered by the North Jersey Sustainable Communities Consortium and the Rutgers University Bloustein School.
The goal is to help cities, suburbs and rural areas improve the quality of life and sustain economic growth while avoiding the pollution, public health and congestion issues that can attend unplanned development.
In Union County, the initiative will cover key areas including transportation, affordable housing, economic competitiveness, coordinated policies and investment, and the value of communities and neighborhoods.
“Union County is fortunate to have the building blocks for sustainable development at hand, including our transportation network, educational and cultural institutions, preserved open space and walkable communities,” said Carter. “Now the goal is to put those pieces together for the benefit of future generations.”
After the March 28 meeting, the four remaining meetings are:
- Providing More Transportation Choices, May 7 in Cranford.
- Promoting Equitable, Affordable Housing, May 29 in Westfield.
- Supporting Communities and Neighborhoods, June 26 in Cranford.
- Coordinating Policies and Leveraging Investment, date and location to be determined.
Additional information about Together North Jersey is available online at togethernorthjersey.com.
For more information about the Union County meetings schedule, email TNJIntern@ucnj.org.
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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.