Some regard the water quality management process in the state as being handled backwards, noted John Hutchison, senior policy advisor-water quality management planning with the state's Department of Environmental Protection, with developers building where infrastructure already exists. “We need a new planning process in New Jersey based on economic growth. Then water management and other departments should line up behind that vision.”

The culture of the land use regulation division is changing “both inside and out, to make sure my staff listens to the issue, and doesn’t just say no,” said Mark Pederson, acting director, land use regulation for the DEP. “A lot of people in my office were focused on the moss at the bottom of the tree,” while forgetting they were even in a forest.” The department is making greater use of technology, instituting a call center, and even setting up a couple of instant permitting programs that will allow builders to receive approvals in a day, he noted.

The DEP remains overburdened, and one method that could help, but is still gaining credibility is the Licensed Site Remediation Professional program, that licenses qualified consultants to oversee environmental investigation and cleanup, supplementing DEP efforts. The state now has 500 LSRPs, but needs twice that many, noted Jorge Berkowitz, a senior associate at Elmwood Park, NJ-based Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, and a member of the state’s Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board.

And education will be needed, said Clark Machemer, a VP at Rockefeller Group Development Corp. in Mt. Olive, NJ. “The good news is that you can get approved fast,” he said. “But buyers may not believe anyone who is not the DEP.”