A parallel road between White Marsh and Gloucester Court House, east of Route 17. Didn’t happen.

Construction of eight new schools. Didn’t happen.

Containing growth to Gloucester Court House and Gloucester Point. Didn’t happen.

A park at Beaverdam. That definitely did happen.

A Gazette-Journal article from 50 years ago contained an outlook for Gloucester County in 2020; half a century after the analysis, that future is now. In this article we look at some of the forecasts, accompanied by modern-day commentary from Anne Ducey-Ortiz, director of Gloucester planning, zoning, and environmental programs.

According to Ducey-Ortiz, Gloucester County adopted its first comprehensive plan in 1974, and she said she believes the forecast, prepared for the county by Victor Gruen Associates, was part of this plan.

The first plan concentrated on future land use, traffic circulation, and community facilities, Ducey-Ortiz said. Updates and complete revisions of 1980, 1991, 1995, 2001...