Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Jefferson Township, in Morris County, has been working with the Highlands Council to help implement the Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP) at the local level since 2014. This page contains more information about the township and its work with the Council.

Jefferson Township is petitioning the Highlands Council for a review of its master plan and development regulations for conformance with the Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP) in the township's planning area lands. Jefferson is already conforming for its lands in the preservation area. The staff Consistency Review and Recommendations Report below provides an overview and analysis of this review. Comments on this petitionare being accepted through Saturday, May 24 2025. At this time it is anticipated that the Council may take action on the petition at its June public meeting.

Draft Consistency Review and Recommendations Report (pdf)
Public Notice Announcing Public Comment Period (pdf)

Area 27,383 acres/42.78 mi²
Preservation Area 24,080 acres
Planning Area 3,303 acres
RMP Conformance Status Conforming, Preservation Area only; Petitioning for Planning Area.
Liaison Elizabeth Ward
Jefferson Township official website

Please contact the municipality directly for the most recent versions of planning and regulatory documents. Please contact the Highlands Council liaison listed above for information about Jefferson Township’s work with the Council.

• Phase 1 Sewer Service Area Expansion Feasibility Study - 2025
• Lake Hopatcong Trout Habitat and Tagging Study – Year Two – 2024
• Lake Hopatcong Trout Habitat and Tagging Study – 2023
• Master Plan Highlands Element – 2014
• Highlands Exemption Ordinance [municipality is authorized to issue certain Highlands Exemptions] – 2014
• Highlands Referral Ordinance [directs certain planning and regulatory documents be referred to the Highlands Council for review] – 2014
• Highlands Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) – 2013