Registration & Coffee
Exhibit Area and PNJ Bookstore Open

Welcome: Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner, NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Opening Plenary: Our Towns, Our Land, Our Heritage

Anniversaries provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate our past while charting a comprehensive course for the future. 2007 marks the fortieth anniversary for the creation of the NJ Historic Sites Council and the NJ Historic Trust and by 1970, both the environmental and the historic movements were codified in the creation of the Department of Environmental Protection. We have a long tradition of innovation and success in protecting our natural and historic resources. But what about the next 40 years? What challenges and opportunities must we plan for if we are to sustain our legacy? Our morning plenary consists of three dynamic individuals who’s combined expertise and insights, along with their unique perspectives, will frame the issues at hand and inspire participants to think beyond boundaries.

Anne Mackin, previously a planner for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, longtime writer on topics related to planning and history and author of Americans and Their Land, The House Built on Abundance, leads the morning session by exploring the relationship between Americans, their land and their government. As she traces the evolution of the circumstances leading to land consumption, we are forced to grapple with key ideological and political processes that contributed to Americans' attitudes towards owning and developing land.

Peter Forbes is the co-founder of the Center for Whole Communities, an organization of people and ideas devoted to exploring and deepening the connections between land, people and community. Formerly with the Trust for Public Land, he is recognized for building bridges between conservation organizations and has written extensively on cross-disciplinary approaches to seeking the commonality.

Elizabeth Waters, planner, consultant, author, adjunct professor, and former Mayor of Charlottesville, VA. Ms. Waters has facilitated several collaborative planning efforts exploring the ways in which historic preservation can and should be integrated into the economic growth and land use strategies in New Jersey. She is uniquely positioned to share her insights and expertise on the future evolution of the preservation movement.

Lunch
Exhibit, PNJ Bookstore, Book Signing

Morristown at a Crossroads: History or Development?
Redevelopment creates new possibilities for public/private partnerships to reshape communities; it is one of the most powerful tools municipalities have. While the redevelopment process has helped historic towns become more economically viable, it has also facilitated the demolition of historic buildings. Because redevelopment steps outside the typical process of planning, zoning, and local Historic Preservation Commission review, it is essential that preservationists understand how it works. This Field Session will introduce you to the redevelopment process. The session will include visits to several redevelopment projects in Morristown, including the ongoing redevelopment at the former location of the Epsteins Department Store at the Morristown Green. While at the Morristown Green, Martin A. Bierbaum will moderate a discussion of the process of redevelopment. Attorney Robert Goldsmith, who represented the Parking Authority in the Morristown "Epsteins" redevelopment project, will discuss the redevelopment process. Scott Whitenack, who was Chair of the Morristown Planning Board during much of the review of the project will provide a Municipal Board member's perspective. Expect a lively discussion.

Moderator:
Martin A. Bierbaum Ph.D., J.D., Executive Director, Municipal Land Use Center at the College of New Jersey

Speakers:
Robert Goldsmith, Esq., Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP (Invited)
Scott Whitenack, Council Member, New Jersey Highlands Commission.

Registration for this workshop will be limited to 44 participants.

1:30 - 3:45 pm

Tourism Partnership: Heritage and the Land
New Jersey is blessed with a wide array of historically and environmentally significant resources. How can these sites collaborate to better capitalize on their potential as tourism assets and guarantee mutual preservation for future generations? Speakers will utilize the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, the Audubon Society, and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance as examples of connecting historic preservation and environmental conservation to create a more inclusive visitor experience. This panel will give stakeholders concrete examples of local and statewide tourism and preservation initiatives that are models for the future. When historic, cultural, and environmental communities work together, as stewards of our resources, we can produce more attractive and competitive destinations that attract larger crowds who spend money as their stay becomes lengthened.

Speakers:
Carleton Montgomery, Executive Director,
Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Lillian Armstrong, Director of Birding and Wildlife Trails,
NJ Audubon Society
Kevin Moore, Project Director, Weequahic Park Association, Inc.
John Seitter, South Jersey Tourism Corporation
Cate Litvack, Executive Director, Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc.

Preserving Context and Protecting the Meaning of Open Space -
Planning for the Stewardship of the Cultural Landscape
As the state expands its role to promote Smart Growth solutions to ever-increasing development pressures while protecting precious natural environments, continuing challenges are arising in ensuring that the preservation and reuse of historic buildings and places is meaningfully and systematically incorporated into these growth management strategies. Preservationists and land conservationists often encounter significant historic and cultural properties that are largely ignored during implementation, which leads to their degradation and subsequent loss. This workshop will present the challenges of long-term stewardship for these critical resources as exemplified by recent representative projects in New Jersey, and see examples of curatorship programs and other creative stewardship solutions currently being implemented elsewhere. These stewardship tools and techniques enhance preservation of the built environment and enable better interpretation for cultural resources within the context of protected landscapes. This workshop is presented by the Heritage Partnership of New Jersey, an established network of agencies, organizations and advocates that is addressing the continued concern over the fate of historic and cultural resources on preserved open space and farmland. Contact Preservation New Jersey for additional information about the Heritage Partnership.

Moderator: Ron Emrich, Executive Director, Preservation New Jersey

Speakers:
Cara Blume, Cultural Conservation Program Manager, Cultural and Recreational Services, Delaware State Parks
Robert von Zumbusch, Vice President Friends of Princeton Open Space
(Additional speaker to be determined)

Workshop 4

Wrap Up Panel: NJ Future

Closing Reception: Mead Hall
All attendees are invited to a closing reception at Mead Hall. Completed in 1836, Mead Hall is a large and imposing example of the Greek Revival style and stands as an architectural gem at the heart of Drew's wooded campus. Listed in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places in 1976, Mead Hall suffered a horrific fire that burned for 23 hours in 1989 and caused extensive damage. After a painstaking 3 year restoration, it re-opened in 1993, completely restored to its original grandeur including impressive features such as: diagonally laid checkered marble floor tiles, elaborate marble fireplaces and reproduction wallpapers. Come meet the speakers and network with fellow conference participants. Hosted by Preservation New Jersey and their generous sponsors.