DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Site Plan and Subdivision Review : The Atlantic County Development Review Committee (DRC) exists within the department and as a subcommittee of the County's Planning Advisory Board, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40: 27-6.8.

County Planning Boards, including Atlantic County, have the authority to review two broad categories of development review applications, site plans and subdivisions. N.J.S.A. 40: 27 - 6.2 gives County planning boards power to review and act on all subdivisions including minor subdivisions (those containing five or less lots). Thus, a subdivision of any size located anywhere within the boundaries of Atlantic County is subject to planning board review.

With respect to site plan applications, N.J.S.A. 40: 27 - 6.2 permits planning boards to review and either approve or disapprove site plans which are along a County road or which affect County drainage. In general, multi-family structures containing less than five units are exempt from this type of review unless off-street parking is requested or required, or if the proposed development will produce runoff in excess of County standards. Also, individual single-family residential dwellings are excluded from County review and approval.

Access the Atlantic County Land Development Standards adopted June 4, 2002. CLICK HERE for the Land Development Standards (PDF FILE)

Solid Waste Management: Pursuant to the Solid Waste Management Act, Atlantic County is required to formulate and adopt a Solid Waste Management Plan. The Plan addresses issues surrounding the generation, collection, transportation, disposal and recycling of solid waste for the County of Atlantic. Implementation of solid waste recycling programs is carried out by the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (CLICK HERE).

The Atlantic County Solid Waste Advisory Council (SWAC) was created within the department to assist the County in the development and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Plan. The SWAC meets regularly to discuss any and all matters related to solid waste management. As an advisory board, SWAC makes recommendations to the Board of Chosen Freeholders concerning proposed amendments to the Solid Waste Management Plan.

Wastewater Management Planning: In 1989, Atlantic County accepted the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection designation as the Areawide Water Quality Management Planning Agency for Atlantic County. As a result, Atlantic County prepared and adopted the 208 Water Quality Management Plan which addresses a wide range of water quality issues involving point and non-point sources of pollution. In July 2008, revisions to the Water Quality Management Plan Administration Codes were promulgated by the State of New Jersey.  The Department of Planning is currently preparing a Wastewater Management Plan which will serve as a guide for the management of sewer service areas and non-sewer service areas in accordance with these revised codes.

Economic and Demographic Information : The Atlantic County Department of Planning serves as the New Jersey State Data Center Affiliate for Atlantic County. As such, all census and related materials are forwarded to our office for dissemination to the public . Staff routinely answers requests for population, housing and income data as well as data for a number of other census profiles available for Atlantic County and the twenty-three municipalities.

• For additional economic and demographic data including municipal population estimates and county population projections, county employment projections, municipal and county labor force and unemployment data, municipal and county building permit data and much more visit the New Jersey Department of Labor's web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/labor/lra.
• Visit the Census Bureau's official web site to find the latest demographic data including Census 2000: http://www.census.gov.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics within the U.S. Department of Labor provides National, State, and regional employment, labor force, productivity, employment cost index data, consumer price index data and much more. For additional economic and demographic information, visit http://stats.bls.gov.
• Health statistics can be found at the US Health Resources Services Administration's Community Health Status Indicators Web site at http://www.communityhealth.hrsa.gov.
• The State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services provides health statistics including birth and death data for New Jersey, counties, and municipalities at: www.state.nj.us/health.
• Low and moderate income housing info and more can be found at the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development website: www.hud.gov.
• Sponsored by New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, visit New Jersey Business Resource Center at http://www.state.nj.us/commerce/.

Capital Road and Bridge Improvements: As part of the County's ongoing transportation planning efforts, the Department of Planning produces the Annual Transportation Program (ATP) and Highway Improvement Program (HIP). This is the County's multi-year capital program for road and bridge improvements. These programs incorporate funding from Federal, State, County and private sectors.