Resilient NJ Northeastern New Jersey

ACTION

PLAN
The Action Plan is the product of almost two years of collaboration, engagement, and technical analyses. It provides recommendations for projects, policies, and programs to address climate-related hazards like coastal flooding, stormwater flooding, heat, and the potential intersection of these hazards with existing stressors, like contaminated sites. The Action Plan organizes these recommendations into a roadmap to increase climate resilience in Northeastern NJ.

The region team is currently working to implement the recommendations of the Action Plan.

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DOWNLOAD THE PLAN

Main Body (full plan without appendices)
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Sections

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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1.0 ABOUT THIS REPORT and 2.0 HOW DID WE GET HERE?
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3.0 PREFERRED SCENARIO AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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4.0 IMPLEMENTATION PATHWAYS
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5.0 ROADMAP
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6.0 CONCLUSION
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APPENDICES (file type varies)

A.  Actions and implementation table, Scenario 0
B.  Cost Estimation Approach
C.  Funding Sources
D.  Scenario Evaluations
E.  Policy reviews
F.  Other Resilient NENJ reports
G.  Summary of Long-Term Control Plans
H.  Approach for Resilient Transformation of Contaminated Sites
I.  Engagement process
J.  Case studies for regionwide coordination

A ROADMAP TO RESILIENCE

A creative set of solutions is needed to address the magnitude of risks that Northeastern NJ faces. The Action Plan recommends a range of types of solutions that complement each other to EASE the risks to people most at risk, PROTECT people and places, and CONNECT people to each other and to resources. Combined, the recommended actions will help the region THRIVE into the future and REGENERATE over time.

The Action Plan divides solutions in multiple ways, as demonstrated below. Click on each category to see the recommended actions it includes.

ACTIONS THAT CHANGE OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

ACTIONS THAT CHANGE OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT & THE WAY WE WORK TOGETHER

ACTIONS THAT CHANGE THE WAY WE WORK TOGETHER

PHYSICAL SOLUTIONS

NON-PHYSICAL SOLUTIONS

PHYSICAL AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

Actions that address coastal and tidal flooding

  • Add physical flood barriers to ease flooding and protect communities
  • Raise existing infrastructure to act as barriers and protect communities
  • Integrate flood protection into parks, walkways & boardwalks
  • Provide flood protection at the site and building scale
  • Take action to restore the coastal environment

Actions that address stormwater flooding

  • Separate stormwater to safe, dedicated outfalls
  • Direct stormwater to deep storage and conveyance infrastructure
  • Improve natural drainage corridors
  • Reduce stormwater volume through stormwater management sites
  • Reduce impervious surface and improve conveyance through green infrastructure

Actions that address other climate-related and environmental justice needs

  • Provide green space and green infrastructure where it can have the most impact

 

Recommended changes to policies and governance

Actions that improve policy and governance

  • Continue and advance regional collaboration
  • Increase coordination on infrastructure investments

Actions that address coastal and tidal flooding

  • Adopt additional land use policies to reduce flood risk
  • Update flood damage prevention ordinances

Actions that address stormwater flooding

  • Provide guidance to more quickly integrate stormwater management in open space
  • Update stormwater management ordinances

Actions that address other climate-related and environmental justice needs

  • Reduce risk from and incorporate resilience into contaminated sites
  • Incorporate resilience in new development, public space, and infrastructure
Outreach, education, and capacity building
  • Provide a “single source of truth”
  • Expand leadership and capacity to manage climate risk
  • Conduct a Resilience 101 Campaign
  • Increase availability of project-related information on websites
  • Improve outreach to and emergency planning for vulnerable and at-risk populations
  • Conduct youth engagement
  • Leverage community expertise and advance real-time understanding of hazard conditions
  • Improve systems for post-disaster recovery funding
Service and program development
  • Create resilience hubs
  • Reduce waste impacts
  • Increase resident access to resilience-related resources
Emergency response and preparedness
  • Improve community preparedness through communication and warning systems
  • Support scalable response to flood events and other climate emergencies
  • Improve availability and access to financial assistance systems for recovery

ACTIONS THAT CHANGE OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

PHYSICAL SOLUTIONS

PHYSICAL AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

Actions that address coastal and tidal flooding

  • Add physical flood barriers to ease flooding and protect communities
  • Raise existing infrastructure to act as barriers and protect communities
  • Integrate flood protection into parks, walkways & boardwalks
  • Provide flood protection at the site and building scale
  • Take action to restore the coastal environment

Actions that address stormwater flooding

  • Separate stormwater to safe, dedicated outfalls
  • Direct stormwater to deep storage and conveyance infrastructure
  • Improve natural drainage corridors
  • Reduce stormwater volume through stormwater management sites
  • Reduce impervious surface and improve conveyance through green infrastructure

Actions that address other climate-related and environmental justice needs

  • Provide green space and green infrastructure where it can have the most impact

ACTIONS THAT CHANGE OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT & THE WAY WE WORK TOGETHER

PHYSICAL SOLUTIONS

Recommended changes to policies and governance

Actions that improve policy and governance

  • Continue and advance regional collaboration
  • Increase coordination on infrastructure investments

Actions that address coastal and tidal flooding

  • Adopt additional land use policies to reduce flood risk
  • Update flood damage prevention ordinances

Actions that address stormwater flooding

  • Provide guidance to more quickly integrate stormwater management in open space
  • Update stormwater management ordinances

Actions that address other climate-related and environmental justice needs

  • Reduce risk from and incorporate resilience into contaminated sites
  • Incorporate resilience in new development, public space, and infrastructure

ACTIONS THAT CHANGE THE WAY WE WORK TOGETHER

NON-PHYSICAL SOLUTIONS

Outreach, education, and capacity building
  • Provide a “single source of truth”
  • Expand leadership and capacity to manage climate risk
  • Conduct a Resilience 101 Campaign
  • Increase availability of project-related information on websites
  • Improve outreach to and emergency planning for vulnerable and at-risk populations
  • Conduct youth engagement
  • Leverage community expertise and advance real-time understanding of hazard conditions
  • Improve systems for post-disaster recovery funding
Service and program development
  • Create resilience hubs
  • Reduce waste impacts
  • Increase resident access to resilience-related resources
Emergency response and preparedness
  • Improve community preparedness through communication and warning systems
  • Support scalable response to flood events and other climate emergencies
  • Improve availability and access to financial assistance systems for recovery

HOW DOES IMPLEMENTATION UNFOLD?

The Action Plan reaches the Action Definition stage of project or program development in many cases. Next steps to advance recommendations at the Action Definition stage include feasibility studies and design for capital projects and program or policy development or design for non-capital actions. Some recommendations in the Action Plan are further along in the implementation process, including several engagement initiatives and capital projects. Progress through Fall of 2022 is documented in the Action Plan. Keep engaged for updates on implementation progress.

Stages of implementation for capital projects (projects that change the built environment through construction)

Stages of implementation for non-capital actions (programs, policies, and initiatives that change how we work together or policies that change the built environment)

WHO WILL IMPLEMENT THE PLAN?

Building community resilience is a team effort.

Leadership, support, and coordination are needed at all scales, from both the public and private sectors. The Action Plan identifies preliminary lead entities for recommendations and opportunities to improve collaboration. It also proposes strategies to improve resources and capacity so that people have the tools needed to take action.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN?

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Below is a look at the program’s timeline for development of the Action Plan. Click to the left to see examples of past or ongoing resilience efforts in the Northeastern NJ region that helped pave the way to Resilient Northeastern NJ. See more on these efforts in the Action Plan.

The Action Plan reflects input and priorities from across the region. Learn more about the engagement process on the Get Involved page.

 

Preloader

    • Newark Sustainability Action Plan– Vision for a sustainable Newark. Read the plan here.
    • Hoboken Resiliency and Readiness Plan– Proposed actions for Hoboken to take based on damages experienced during Hurricane Sandy. Read the plan here.
    • Hoboken Green Infrastructure Strategic Plan– Strategy for implementing green infrastructure across Hoboken, incorporating public input. Read the plan here.

      • Jersey City Sandy Recovery Strategic Recovery Planning Report– Documented damages from Hurricane Sandy in Jersey City. Includes proposed draft action plan. Read the report here.
      • Hudson County Sandy Strategic Recovery Planning Report – Documented damages from Hurricane Sandy across Hudson County; includes proposed repair measures and a draft action plan. Read the report here.

    • Visualizations of Adaptation Scenarios and Next Steps White Paper– Concept plans and visualizations for proposed resiliency measures in Jersey City, prepared by Michael Baker for Jersey City. Read the report here.
    • South Ironbound Resiliency Action Plan– Resiliency recommendations for the South Ironbound neighborhood, prepared by Ironbound Community Corporation and American Planning Association. Read the plan here.
    • Hoboken Resilient Building Design Guidelines– Summary of construction requirements in flood hazard areas and guidance on best practices. Read the guidelines here.

    • Engaging and Strengthening Hudson County– Concurrent with development of 2016 Hudson County Master Plan Re-examination, Parks Master Plan, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Plan, and County Capital Improvement Plan. Read more about the planning initiative here.
    • Updated Hudson County Land Development Regulations– Updated land development regulations focused on flood resilience and complete streets. Read the updated land development regulations here.

    • Jersey City Resiliency Master Plan, Adaptation Master Plan, and Urban Environmental Green Infrastructure Plan– Vulnerability and risk assessments for Jersey City, further-developed proposed resiliency measures that had been identified in Michael Baker Report, and strategies for green infrastructure across the city. Read a summary document of the reports here.
    • Newark Coastal Vulnerability Assessment– Coastal vulnerability assessment for portions of downtown Newark, prepared by Rutgers. Read the report here.
    • Hoboken Master Plan Green Building and Environmental Sustainability Element– Numerous sustainability and resiliency recommendations, including those related to coastal and rainfall flooding. Read the plan here.
    • Bayonne Master Plan Re-examination Report– Focus on redevelopment and economic revitalization across Bayonne. Read the report here.

    • Jersey City Resilient Design Handbook– Guidelines for residents and businesses on incorporation of green infrastructure and designing resilient buildings. Read the handbook here.
    • Hoboken Master Land Use Element– Recommendations related to stormwater management. Read the plan here.

    • Essex County Hazard Mitigation Plan – Newark participated in the Essex County 2020 update to the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Access the plan and additional information here.
    • Hudson County Hazard Mitigation Plan– Bayonne, Hoboken, and Jersey City each participated in the Hudson County 2020 update to the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Access the plan and additional information here.

  • VISION AND PRIORITIES

    What do we want our region to look like in the future? What should stay the same and what should change? What do we want our relationship with water to look like?

     

    Learn more about the community vision that the Action Plan advances on the About Our Region page.

  • RISKS AND TOOLS

    What neighborhoods and infrastructure in our region are most at risk from climate-related hazards such as flooding, heat, and poor air quality? How will climate change shape future impacts? What tools do we have to address these risks?

     

    Learn more about the Flood Impact Assessment and Climate Hazards Assessment on the Risk, Opportunities, and Challenges page.

  • POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

    What policies, programs, or projects can be implemented to address risks and achieve the identified vision? How will the solutions impact our region?

     

    We developed three scenarios, or suites of solutions, tailored to the region’s unique characteristics and risks. The Action Plan combines pieces of the three scenarios. The Solutions page gives an overview of tools available and solutions that are already being implemented.

  • ACTION​ PLAN

    What actions do we commit to? What is needed to accomplish these actions? How can each person in our region do something to help?

     

    The Action Plan incorporates feedback and analyses from previous stages of the process and is intended to reflect successes, clarify the need for action, and be an outline for the future.

  • ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION BEGINS

    The region team is working to implement the recommendations of the Action Plan. Through March 2025, the team is focused on identified priority actions

Get Involved

Your input and involvement are critical to increasing the resilience of our communities. Opportunities to engage with the program will be updated periodically on the Get Involved page.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED!

STAY IN THE LOOP

Sign up for periodic emails to stay up to date on program process.

EMAIL LIST SIGN-UP

EXPLORE OUR RESOURCE LIBRARY

The Resource Library contains our project reports, anytime and youth engagement materials, and other information about progress.

CLICK HERE

The Region Team

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