The proposal for the Byram MP³ is to review and evaluate the Township’s lake management strategies and develop a vision and guidelines for implementing the new town center development.  Byram is known as the Township of Lakes and is rich in both history and natural resources.  The majority of Township residents live on one of the more than two dozen lakes and ponds.  A Lakefront Development Study completed previously may provide information on how communities can manage the opportunities and constraints offered by a lakeside environment.  Septic management, design guidelines, and lake maintenance are issues in Byram and many other Highlands towns.  The Township would like to further evolve design of a compact, environmentally sensitive town center through development of design guidelines, water quality protection techniques and improvements to the local circulation system.  Grant amount – not to exceed $50,000.

The proposal for the Califon MP³ project is to evaluate individual on-site alternative wastewater treatment technologies in relation to special conditions that are common within the Borough.  The Borough of Califon is located entirely within the Highlands Preservation Area.  The Borough has no public sanitary sewer facilities and relies entirely on individual on-site disposal systems.  Existing structures suitable for affordable housing and redevelopment projects are severely limited due to poor soils and underlying carbonate rock formations.  The evaluation will include identification of alternative systems, discussion of feasibility of implementing alternative systems, including research of case studies, establish contacts for an Innovative/Alternative Wastewater Technologies working group, and cost comparison of alternative systems versus a municipal-wide system.  Grant amount – not to exceed $12,790.

The proposal for the Greenwich MP³ is to work with the community in crafting a balanced approach for growth management.  Greenwich Township was one of the fastest growing towns in the State during 1990 – 2000. As a result of a COAH settlement and wastewater capacity extensions, the Township grew rapidly during a concentrated period. The Township is aggressively evaluating new measures for finding a balance between preserving its farm land and rural character while managing growth.  The grant will also establish an agricultural sustainable work group for the first time in the community and evaluate innovative approaches for addressing affordable housing needs within the community.  Grant amount – not to exceed $38,000.

Identification and Evaluation of Redevelopment Opportunities (pdf)

The proposal for the Ringwood MP³ is to develop a procedure for identifying and evaluating redevelopment opportunities in the Preservation Area and to generate a comprehensive, regional eco-tourism program in coordination with the neighboring Township of West Milford.  Ringwood is one of only five Highland Region communities situated entirely within the Preservation Area.  At the center of the Ramapo and Wyanokie Mountains in the northwest corner of Passaic, Ringwood is an aesthetic, cultural and recreational jewel that has potential as a center for a Highlands eco-tourism industry.  The Highlands Act encourages development of a climate supportive of innovative economic development enterprise that takes advantage of the unique beauty and resources of the Region.  The Township’s location and natural resources make it an attractive destination for both New Jersey and New York travelers.  Ringwood and West Milford share a common interest in this project and they have agreed to work together with the Council on development on this MP³ grant program.  Grant amount – not to exceed $30,000.

The proposal for the Washington Borough MP³ is to develop a vision and strategies for implementing town center redevelopment initiatives, including historic preservation guidelines, along with protection of a C-1 stream.  Washington Borough serves as the downtown commercial hub for surrounding communities and is in the process of developing a formal redevelopment plan that incorporates design guidelines for historic structures, protects the C-1 stream that transverses its downtown, deals with brownfield sites as redevelopment opportunities, and addresses Route 57 corridor improvements. It is the Borough’s vision to serve as a gateway community that represents smart growth within the Highlands Region while balancing its small town character and quality of life.  Grant amount – not to exceed $52,000.

The proposal for the West Milford MP³, like that of the Ringwood project, is to develop a procedure for identifying and evaluating redevelopment opportunities in the Preservation Area and generate a comprehensive, regional eco-tourism program.  West Milford is one of the five (5) municipalities in the Highlands Region which are entirely within the Preservation Area.  The Township covers approximately 81 square miles at the extreme northern part of New Jersey and is home to extensive State Forest and Parks, County Parkland, and watershed lands and reservoirs, comprising more than 65 square miles.  The Township’s natural resources make it an attractive destination, while it's existing “downtown” offers opportunities for commercial redevelopment.  Working with Ringwood, the Township can share their mapping and planning capabilities toward the common goal of investigating how a Preservation Area town can maintain economic vitality through redevelopment opportunities and generation of a cooperative eco-tourism program.  Grant amount – not to exceed $30,000.