Almost like free GIS

The online mapping applications at NJ DEP are incredibly helpful, especially for people working without GIS software.  These days the main app is NJ Geoweb which loads in a web browser.

NJ Geoweb not only allows you to map and overlay dozens of layers, but it also supports some basic analyses. The municipalities layer lets you look at the utterly ridiculous shape of South Hackensack. The proximity tools allow users to select all of the parcels (or schools, or dry cleaners) within 1000 yards (or 50 feet) of selected streams (or municipalities or day care centers).

I am surprised that I haven't already heard more stories of citizens showing up at planning board meetings with custom maps and analysis from NJ Geoweb. Maybe this will be the year.