Coastal Commission Debate Engaged

Legislation to Create Regional Planning Commission to be Introduced

[Update below]

Well, some good news. Before Sandy even struck, and from the outset of the rebuild debate, we have called for the creation of a Coastal Commission as the most effective governing institution to move forward with regional planning for the future of the shore.

[Note: read the history: 1987 Public Hearings before Senate Special Committee to Study Coastal and Ocean Pollution – Senate Bill 1577 – establishes a NJ Coastal Commission.]

We were pleased to learn that the moderate planning group NJ Future also supports a Commission, but shocked and deeply disappointed when our colleagues in the environmental community did not, preferring a meaninglessly vague set of [aspirational] “principles”.

So we were pleased to read today’s Star Ledger report that Assemblyman Barnes (D-Middlesex) will introduce legislation to create a Coastal Commission:

“I think a sense of urgency is taking over,” said Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex), who plans to introduce a bill establishing such an agency. “Towns are planning to rebuild in what I believe to be a haphazard fashion,” he said. Barnes last week said such an effort is needed in the face of billions of dollars in damage to ailing towns that he says are handcuffed by a concept of home rule that has outlived its usefulness. But his proposal is bound to stir controversy.

As expected, the Christie Administration panned the proposal. Of course, the Gov. would prefer to control what he sees as a multi-billion dollar real estate game completely and unilaterally via his Rebuild Czar, with no restrictive legislative authorization, no oversight, no public participation process, and no transparency.

The Christie Rebuild Czar has more resources and power than the entire NJ Legislature.

Assuming that a considerable portion of the federal bailout package will be issued in the form of block grants, the Czar could have more discretionary spending than the entire state budget!

Those federal resources and state regulatory power would leverage additional billions of dollars in private sector financing, and determine the land use of the shore region.

Those are huge powers – far too much power for 1 individual with no public accountability or legislative controls. The SL reports:

The Christie administration is not convinced the commission, which would cover 130 miles of coastline from Old Bridge to Cape May, is necessary. Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Republican Gov. Chris Christie, said it was “too soon to speculate on the need or relative benefit of such a regulatory shift.” “These sorts of issues will be examined and thought through as part of the rebuilding effort,” Roberts said.

I have no idea what Mr. Kevin Roberts is talking about – just how will those issues be “examined”?

They can’t be because there is no planning process, no public hearings, and no legislative process.

The Christie Rebuild Czar meets behind closed doors and policy deliberation is confined to the Christie Cabinet.

That is completely unacceptable.

A Coastal Commission is consistent with NJ’s leadership tradition of regional planning since the 1960’s: the Hackensack Meadowlands, Pinelands, and Highlands.

Ideally, a Coastal Commission’s jurisdiction could extend not only along the Atlantic coast, but around to the Delaware Bayshore region, NJ’s last remaining primarily rural landscape.

Apparently, Senator Sweeney is not convinced or supportive at this time:

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) said that “everyone is in agreement that our long-term recovery from Sandy needs to be done in a smart, coordinated fashion” and that she “will review his proposal carefully, as we do with all bills.” Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said at a recent meeting with editors and reporters of The Star-Ledger that his chamber would “look at” the idea.

Sweeney needs to hear from the public.

Politically, Barnes is from Middlesex County, the same legislative District as Senator Buono, who is running for Gov.. So, I assume this could be a trial balloon.

Buono might get behind this initiative, and make it part of the Gubernatorial campaign. That would be very interesting, but I don’t know if the rebuild planning could wait that long.

[Update: 1/6/13 –  Well it sure didn’t take long. Gov. Christie opposes a Coastal Commission or any legislative role. Gov. doubles down on the Rebuild Czar and moves quickly to shut down any debate, even before the Barnes bil is introduced.  see Asbury Park Press: Chrisite opposes panel to oversee shore rebuilding – end update]