Legislation sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) to require municipal master plans to include strategies concerning energy efficiency, storm resiliency, and environmental protection has received final legislative approval from the New Jersey Senate.

“Every municipality should be actively working to improve energy efficiency and shore up our environmental infrastructure,” said Bateman. “As the most densely populated state in the nation, we have to be aggressive in our efforts to protect the environment. Requiring every master plan to address sustainability issues will ensure each community is doing their part to safeguard natural resources for the next generation.”

The legislation, S-2873, requires that the land use element of a municipal master plan include a statement of strategy concerning: smart growth, including potential locations for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations; storm resiliency with respect to energy supply, flood-prone areas, and environmental infrastructure; and environmental sustainability.

The land use element of a master plan is adopted by local boards that are intimately involved with local land use issues, such as a planning board.

“Placing this strategy within the land use section of the master plan is critical to ensuring sustainability improvements are addressed in a practical and effective manner, by the people who have the knowledge and experience to do so,” Bateman added.

The legislation now heads to the governor’s desk.