ABSTRACT
In New Jersey, the land development industry advocates more predictable government regulations and, in general, less red tape. in a state as litigious as New Jersey, local officials, most of whom are lay volunteers, often avoid “aggressive” land use planning and regulation that may be challenged in court. Likewise, they often shy away from imposing techniques that may be perceived as costly to implement. As a result of these concerns, proactive land use strategies to prevent structural collapse and/or ground water contamination in karst areas have historically been few and far between. This reluctance toward proactive planning is a product of a fundamental lack of knowledge within both the regulatory and development communities about the impacts of building in carbonate areas.
Faced with such challenges, how does an organization promote more practical government regulations that prevent potential loss of life, property damage and expensive law suits? This paper highlights the strategies used to “market” karst land use regulations, foster appropriate site design techniques, and heighten awareness of development impacts in karst areas among public and private sectors alike.
