As you are probably aware, the government's increasing control over and acquisition of once-private land is increasing across America, and the Highlands Council is one of those vehicles in NJ. The attached meeting minutes reference the RMP (Regional Master Plan), and discuss how communities can conform with it, and are given grants to do so. With conformance comes restrictions on how the land can be used and developed. That is what the Highlands Council is all about. We REALLY need someone to be following this.

The State of NJ (as of the November 2014 referendum question) is now acquiring $150-$200m of open space each year with NO sunset clause. Most NJ Counties most probably have an open space preservation fund - Morris County does. Many municipalities do as well. So every day, more and more land is acquired to be "protected" by some level of government. The extreme reaction is what happened at the Bundy ranch last year, and the current confrontation in Oregon.

In Morris County, I noticed that the County's Open Space Preservation funding will be discussed as it pertains to funding in the 2016 budget that is now being developed. There is an Open Space Committee that meets regularly to consider acquisition of properties within the county. We do not have anyone attending those meetings on a regular basis. We might want to have input into the funding of Open Space in this year's budget.

I'm forwarding this to all CSG students in NJ. If you don't live in our region, there is some agency doing this in your area. In South Jersey, it's the Pinelands Council. There are also regional planning associations in your area of the State - there are three in NJ. They are focused more on the broader aspects of planning and development (think Together North Jersey). Here's the website, for the interested. Read what they have in mind under the "Fair Housing and Equity" tab, and the hair on the back of your head will stand straight up. The July HUD regulations, for example, and the NJ Supreme Court's March 2015 COAH decision are two pincers that will put even more control over housing, determining (ala Westchester County, NY) whether communities have adequately addressed "barriers to fair housing". Another story.

Contact Barbara @ 973-538-8226 for more details.