using arcgis to develop smart growth strategies

Hunterdon County, NJ

Using ArcGIS to Develop Using ArcGIS to Develop Smart Growth StrategiesSmart Growth Strategies

Sue Dziamara PP/AICPSue Dziamara PP/AICPHunterdon County, NJHunterdon County, NJ

2005 ESRI International User Conference2005 ESRI International User ConferenceJuly 25-29, 2005July 25-29, 2005


Hunterdon County… Hunterdon County… • Primarily rural farmland, but Primarily rural farmland, but experiencing growth pressure.experiencing growth pressure.• Goal: maintain their rural / small town Goal: maintain their rural / small town

heritage while accommodating heritage while accommodating reasonable growthreasonable growth

BuildOut SimulatorBuildOut Simulator


1993 Build Out Request…1993 Build Out Request…

• As a planning authority for these As a planning authority for these small municipalities, the Planning small municipalities, the Planning Dept. was asked to prepare a build-Dept. was asked to prepare a build-out for a single township.out for a single township.

• Process took over a month…..Process took over a month…..



. . .

. . . The Department needed a better, . . . The Department needed a better, more efficient way to provide this more efficient way to provide this necessary service.necessary service.


•GIS-based, GIS-based, countywide countywide parcel data layerparcel data layer

• Incorporated Incorporated local zoning local zoning informationinformation

• More automated More automated processprocess


How it Came to Be…How it Came to Be…• 2001, Received a Smart Growth grant 2001, Received a Smart Growth grant

from the New Jersey Office of from the New Jersey Office of Community Affairs to generate a Community Affairs to generate a development plan.development plan.– Develop build-out scenarios for Develop build-out scenarios for

areas of likely development.areas of likely development.• The County contracted G/I/S to The County contracted G/I/S to

develop the Build-Out Simulator develop the Build-Out Simulator (BOS), an extension of ArcGIS.(BOS), an extension of ArcGIS.



Hunterdon’s Requirements…Hunterdon’s Requirements…• Needed to show actual parcels Needed to show actual parcels

created.created.• Intended for the Planning Intended for the Planning

ProfessionalProfessional • Must be easily integrated into your Must be easily integrated into your

organization’s existing computer organization’s existing computer technology.technology.



• Provide a visual snap shotProvide a visual snap shot• Show realistic build-out impacts on a Show realistic build-out impacts on a

parcel-based levelparcel-based level• Estimate the amount of remaining open Estimate the amount of remaining open

space, number of homes or square feet space, number of homes or square feet of commercial space to be builtof commercial space to be built

• Allow the Planning Professional to Allow the Planning Professional to create alternative development scenarioscreate alternative development scenarios

BOS Deliverables …BOS Deliverables …


The BOS as a Planning The BOS as a Planning ResourceResource

Allow Municipalities to:Allow Municipalities to:

• Evaluate Zoning RegulationsEvaluate Zoning Regulations• Consider Environment ConstraintsConsider Environment Constraints• Preservation GoalsPreservation Goals


The BOS as a Planning The BOS as a Planning ResourceResource

Allowing Hunterdon County to:Allowing Hunterdon County to:

• Provide 20-year build-out projections to Provide 20-year build-out projections to municipalitiesmunicipalities

• Support 2020 Population ProjectionsSupport 2020 Population Projections


Return on InvestmentReturn on Investment

• Smart Growth strategies can be Smart Growth strategies can be realizedrealized

• Communities respond to visual queuesCommunities respond to visual queues• An effective communication toolAn effective communication tool• Identify a common vision and achieve a Identify a common vision and achieve a

common goalcommon goal


Lessons Learned …Lessons Learned …

• Requires defining and input of zoning Requires defining and input of zoning variablesvariables

• While some processes are automated, it still While some processes are automated, it still requires initial start up time and trainingrequires initial start up time and training

• Commercial build-out results were not as Commercial build-out results were not as anticipated anticipated


SuccessesSuccesses

• Automates complex procedures Automates complex procedures • Allows for alternative development Allows for alternative development

scenariosscenarios• Useful in demonstrating residential build-Useful in demonstrating residential build-

outout• Effective means of verifying population Effective means of verifying population

projectionsprojections


The Future for BOS …The Future for BOS …


Contact Information:Contact Information:

Sue Dziamara, PP/AICPSue Dziamara, PP/AICPHunterdon County Planning DepartmentHunterdon County Planning Department

www.co.hunterdon.nj.uswww.co.hunterdon.nj.us

Geographic Information Services, Inc.Geographic Information Services, Inc.www.gis-services.comwww.gis-services.com

Thank You, Questions?Thank You, Questions?

using arcgis to develop smart growth strategies

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