|
Information
for Municipalities
- Which municipalities
are in the Highlands Preservation Area and/or the
Planning Area?
- How are municipalities
in the Highlands Preservation Area affected by the
Highlands Water Protection & Planning Act?
- How are municipalities
in the Highlands Planning Area affected?
- How can I determine
which portions of my municipality are in the Highlands
Preservation Area or the Planning Area?
- What is the
regional master plan?
- Does the Highlands
Water Protection and Planning Act provide exemptions
for projects undertaken by local government?
- What is DEP's responsibility
in implementing the Highlands Water Protection and Planning
Act?
- What is the Municipality’s role
in implementing the Highlands Water Protection
and Planning Act?
1. Which municipalities are in the Highlands
Preservation Area and/or the Planning Area?
Go
to Department's interactive mapping tool or view list
of municipalities
back
back to top
2. How are municipalities in the Highlands
Preservation Area affected by the Highlands Water
Protection & Planning Act?
Within 9 to 15 months after the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Council) adopts a regional master plan, municipalities located wholly or partially in the Highlands Preservation Area must revise their local master plans and development regulations for those portions of their town that are in the Preservation Area to conform with the regional master plan. The Council has developed a process and standards to guide municipalities in this effort.
For more information about the regional master plan or the Council, visit the Council's web site at https://www.state.nj.us/njhighlands/ or contact them at (908) 879-6737.
back
back to top
3. How are municipalities in the Highlands Planning
Area affected?
Municipalities located wholly or partially in the Highlands Planning Area may voluntarily enter the Council’s conformance process and revise their local master plans and development regulations consistent with the regional master plan. Conformance may qualify the municipality for financial assistance or other incentives offered by the Highlands Council.
back
back to top
4. How can I determine which portions of my
municipality are in the Highlands Preservation Area or
the Planning Area?
Go to the Department’s interactive mapping tool or review the legislative description (pdf). Please note that the depiction of the Highlands Region boundaries availabl e on the Department’s interactive mapping tool was developed to be a graphical interpretation of the legal, written description of the boundary within the Highlands Act. Should there be any discrepancies between the depiction on the Department’s interactive mapping tool and the boundary description in the Highlands Act, the language in the Highlands Act shall govern.
back
back to top
5. What is the regional master plan?
The Highlands regional master plan includes a resource assessment that establishes sustainable development considering ecosystem resources, a financial element to determine cost of implementation, and assessment of smart growth opportunities. In addition, the master plan includes a land use capability map and comprehensive statement of policies for planning and managing the development and use of land in the Preservation Area, which is based upon, must comply with, and implement the environmental standards adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection. Preservation zones are identified in a preservation zone element where development shall not occur in order to protect water resources and environmentally sensitive lands and which are to be permanently preserved through use of a variety of tools, including but not limited to land acquisition and transfer of development rights. The master plan will also include minimum preservation area standards for municipalities and counties. For more information about the regional master plan or the Council, visit the Council's web site at https://www.state.nj.us/njhighlands/ or contact them at (908) 879-6737.
back
back to top
6. Does the Highlands Water Protection and Planning
Act provide exemptions for projects undertaken by
local government?
Yes, the Act provides for the following exemptions:
- The routine maintenance and operations, rehabilitation,
preservation, reconstruction, or repair of transportation
or infrastructure systems by a State entity or local
government unit, provided that the activity is consistent
with the goals and purposes of the Highlands Act and
does not result in the construction of any new through-capacity
travel lanes;
- The construction of transportation safety projects
and bicycle and pedestrian facilities by a State entity
or local government unit, provided that the activity
does not result in the construction of any new through-capacity
travel lanes;
- The routine maintenance and operations, rehabilitation,
preservation, reconstruction, repair, or upgrade of
public utility lines, rights of way, or systems, by
a public utility, provided that the activity is consistent
with the goals and purposes of the Highlands Act; and
- The construction of a public infrastructure project
approved by public referendum prior to January 1, 2005
or a capital project approved by public referendum prior
to January 1, 2005.
back
back to top
7.What is DEP's responsibility in implementing the
Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act?
The Act established certain environmental standards that became effective immediately upon enactment and charged DEP with the implementation and enforcement of these standards. DEP was also required to adopt rules that would implement the Act. Those rules were adopted in November, 2006.
back
back to top
8. What is the
Municipality’s role in implementing the Highlands
Water Protection and Planning Act?
back
back to top
|
