| Governor
McGreevey Forms Task Force to Protect Highlands:
Open Space Preservation and Safeguarding Drinking Water
Supplies Top Priorities
(03/130) RINGWOOD TOWNSHIP
- Recognizing the Highland region's extensive natural resources,
exceptional farmland and its value as a major source of
drinking water for New Jersey residents, Governor James
E. McGreevey established a new Highlands Task Force charged
to advance conservation efforts and comprehensively review
measures that encourage land acquisition, regional planning
and smart growth.
Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today announced the
creation of the Highlands Task Force during the Highlands
Coalition Annual Meeting held in Ringwood State Park, Passaic
County.
"The Highlands is a critical resource
that is experiencing tremendous pressure from population
growth and development. Every effort must be made to aggressively
preserve remaining open space and safeguard the region's
precious water supplies," said Governor McGreevey.
"I've charged the Task Force to identify steps needed
to preserve the Highlands, while providing smart growth
opportunities for local communities and maintaining our
quality of life."
As outlined in a signed executive order,
Governor McGreevey formally directed the Task Force to examine
legislation, regulations, model local ordinances or other
government action necessary to pursue the following goals:
-
Protection of water quality, drinking water supplies,
wetlands, critical plant and wildlife species habitat,
vegetated stream corridors, and contiguous forests;
-
Identification of methods to protect and preserve
open space and sustainable uses of natural resources
of the Highlands region;
-
Identification of methods to enhance farmland preservation
and support the agriculture industry in the Highlands
region;
-
Identification of methods to promote historic, cultural,
scenic and recreational resource opportunities that
preserve the natural features of the Highlands region;
and
-
Provide smart growth opportunities, including economic
development and redevelopment, in the Highlands region
through regional planning, including coordination of
transportation and infrastructure investments and administrative
agency activities, consistent with State Development
and Redevelopment Plan (2001).
The Task Force will hold public meetings
and present recommendations to the Governor regarding the
above mentioned issues within six months.
"We can not afford to let unchecked
sprawl jeopardize a nationally significant area that provides
water for half of New Jersey residents and supports critical
wildlife habitat," said DEP Commissioner Campbell.
"Governor McGreevey has set an aggressive timeline
for the Task Force to establish a Highlands action plan
to address the mounting threats to this precious natural
treasure."
Since 1984, 65,000 acres - nearly 100 square
miles - of the Highlands region have been lost to development,
and sprawl and the pace of development in the region has
dramatically increased. The rate at which forested lands
and wetlands have been lost has more than doubled since
1995.
"We applaud the Governor's continued
leadership on the Highlands. He has put forward a clear
charge and set in motion an inclusive and thoughtful process
to ensure the long-term protection of this threatened region
of water, beauty and life," said Executive Director
of the Highlands Coalition Thomas A. Gilbert.
The Highlands region is an area that extends
from northwestern Connecticut across the lower Hudson River
Valley and northern New Jersey into east central Pennsylvania.
The New Jersey portion of the Highlands region is greater
than 1,000 square miles, covering portions of seven counties
and 90 municipalities.
The Highlands region is an essential source
of drinking water, providing clean and plentiful drinking
water for one-half of the state's population, including
communities beyond the Highlands region. In addition, the
Highlands region contains other exceptional natural resources
such as clean air, contiguous forest lands, wetlands, pristine
watersheds and plant and wildlife species habitats. The
region contains sites of historic significance, and provides
abundant recreational opportunities. Approximately 110,000
acres of agricultural lands are in active production in
the New Jersey Highlands region.
Governor McGreevey's proposal to increase
open space funding for the Highlands region will be presented
to New Jersey voters as a ballot question this November.
In his State of the State address, the Governor pledged
to dedicate an additional $50 million over the next three
years for open space preservation in the Highlands, as well
as implementing a limited time capital gains tax waiver
for those landowners who sell their property to the state's
open space program.
The 19-member Task Force will include cabinet
members DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell; Department of
Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin; Department
of Agriculture Secretary Charles Kuperus; Department of
Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere; and the Chief
Executive Officer and Secretary of the Commerce and Economic
Growth Commission William Watley. Additional members of
the Task Force include: Lois Cuccinello, Passaic County
Freeholder; Val Huddle, Bergen County Freeholder; Mayor
Frank Van Horn, Knowlton; Tom Gilbert, Executive Director
Highlands Coalition; Tom Gilmore, Executive Director, Audubon
Society, NJ; Michele Byers, Executive Director, Conservative
Foundation; David Epstein, Executive Director, Morris Land
Conservancy; Joe Riggs, K. Hovanian; Tammy Horsfield, Sussex
County Chamber of Commerce, and Malcolm Borg, member of
the public. The Governor will name the remaining members
of the Task Force shortly.
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