The statehouse in Trenton
By Joshua Burd
A professional with the Atlantic City Development Corp. is among four new appointees to the New Jersey State Planning Commission, as stakeholders look to re-energize the agency that sets development policy and priorities throughout the state.
Elizabeth Terenik, a senior project manager with ACDevco, took her seat on the commission on Feb. 5 during its annual meeting in Trenton, the developer announced. She has been a licensed professional planner and member of the American Institute of Certified Planners for 23 years after receiving her master’s degree in public administration, with a longtime focus on South Jersey.
“Elizabeth has represented the planning profession well in both her technical abilities and her extensive public outreach,” said Christopher Paladino, ACDevco’s president. “She undoubtedly will have a meaningful impact as a member of the SPC.”
In a news release, ACDevco touted Terenik’s deep municipal government experience in Cape May and Atlantic counties, including stints as code enforcement officer, zoning officer, planning director and business administrator. She also teaches a mandatory training class for planning and zoning board members.
Terenik plans to use her municipal government and land use experience to help the commission and its supporting agency, the Office of Planning Advocacy, communicate the critical role of planning in making local development decisions. The SPC also works closely with other state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation to provide incentives to communities with master plans and zoning laws that are consistent with the State Plan.
“We have already begun to work with municipalities with expiring center designations and have begun to evaluate our rules and guidelines to update our process,” said Donna Rendeiro, executive director of the Office of Planning Advocacy and secretary to the State Planning Commission.
In addition to Terenik, the new members are:
- Thomas Wright, CEO and president of the Regional Plan Association, the nation’s oldest independent metropolitan research, planning and advocacy organization
- Somerset County Freeholder Director Shanel Y. Robinson, who also serves as deputy mayor in Franklin and vice chair of the Puerto Rican Action Board
- Bruce A. Harris, former mayor of Chatham Borough and current planning board, environmental commission and open space committee member in the borough
