- Since the adoption of its first Comprehensive Management Plan in 1981, the Pinelands Commission has steered development away from environmentally sensitive areas, safeguarding the region’s aquifer, blueberry and cranberry farms and other natural resources. Through 2002, the most recent year for which data are available, fewer than five homes per year had been approved in the core Preservation Area.
- Municipalities in the Pinelands region enjoy better economic health than municipalities in the non-Pinelands towns of South Jersey, as measured by unemployment rates, property taxes, property values, growth of new business establishments and “effective tax rates,” a key indicator of municipal fiscal stress.
- Since its creation in 1968, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission has promoted a balance of orderly economic development and environmental protection and restoration in the Meadowlands District. The district has experienced more than $2 billion dollars in development over the past four decades, resulting in more than $9 billion in tax revenue for district municipalities. Over the same time period, the commission has preserved more than 4,000 acres of environmentally sensitive wetlands and helped create 21 parks with more than 10 miles of hiking trails. More than 280 species of birds now call the Meadowlands their permanent or seasonal home.
- Forty years ago, there were 51 mostly unregulated landfills in the Meadowlands. Today, there is one operating landfill. Its revenue helps fund the commission’s activities, including appropriation over the last seven years of nearly $10 million in direct aid to the region’s 14 municipalities.
Success Linked to Consolidated, Region-Wide Decision-Making
Regional land use planning has been used successfully in New Jersey to manage resources that transcend municipal boundaries. It is enabled when the Legislature transfers municipal authority to plan and regulate development to a regional planning agency. Regional planning consolidates land use decision-making in a way that not only allows for a bigger-picture perspective, but also can provide greater efficiency, accountability and technical resources than individual municipalities acting alone.
The Pinelands Commission was created by the Pinelands Protection Act in 1979 to protect the region’s natural and cultural resources, including the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system and its estimated 17 trillion gallons of pure water. The Pinelands region spans 53 municipalities in seven counties and covers 22 percent of the state.
The Hackensack Meadowlands Reclamation and Development Act of 1968 charged the Meadowlands Commission with providing for environmental protection, orderly development and solid waste disposal facilities in a 30-square-mile region that encompasses portions of 14 municipalities in Bergen and Hudson counties. This is accomplished, in part, through a unique tax-sharing arrangement among the municipalities.
Both the Pinelands and Meadowlands commissions continue to actively manage growth and preservation activities in accordance with their specific statutory mandates, and are upheld as national models.
The state’s most recent regional planning legislation, the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act of 2004, was designed to protect water resources in a region covering 88 municipalities and 17 percent of the state’s land area. The Highlands Council adopted a Regional Master Plan in 2008 —and recently approved the first municipal petition for conformance from Byram Township.
The Highlands effort has not been without controversy. For example, some landowners contend their property values have been unfairly reduced, while some environmentalists protest that land use protections should be stronger. Similar tensions have existed over the years in both the Pinelands and Meadowlands, where experience has shown that a steady commitment from the state, combined with a strong regional planning entity, can resolve them equitably. If the state remains resolved to protecting water resources in the Highlands, the regional planning powers exercised by the Highlands Council will be essential to success. With time and commitment, New Jersey’s experience in the Pinelands and Meadowlands makes it clear that regional planning delivers results.
Related Blog
11/26/2025
08/12/2025
07/16/2025
07/15/2025
07/15/2025
07/01/2025
07/01/2025
07/01/2025
06/30/2025
06/30/2025
06/30/2025
06/26/2025
06/19/2025
06/19/2025
06/16/2025
05/21/2025
05/15/2025
04/22/2025
04/01/2025
03/14/2025
03/13/2025
02/18/2025
02/18/2025
12/02/2024
09/19/2024
08/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
06/24/2024
06/24/2024
03/29/2024
03/29/2024
03/19/2024
03/19/2024
03/15/2024
01/29/2024
01/12/2024
12/18/2023
12/05/2023
12/05/2023
11/30/2023
10/12/2023
09/20/2023
09/18/2023
08/08/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/17/2023
07/17/2023
07/17/2023
06/06/2023
05/17/2023
05/17/2023
05/11/2023
03/17/2023
03/16/2023
02/06/2023
01/31/2023
01/30/2023
01/20/2023
01/17/2023
01/04/2023
05/01/2023
04/19/2023
04/17/2023
11/29/2022
11/11/2022
10/25/2022
10/21/2022
10/18/2022
09/22/2022
09/21/2022
08/16/2022
08/09/2022
07/19/2022
07/19/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/07/2022
07/07/2022
06/30/2022
06/29/2022
06/27/2022
06/24/2022
06/22/2022
06/10/2022
05/23/2022
05/23/2022
05/20/2022
04/25/2022
03/24/2022
02/22/2022
02/18/2022
01/19/2022
12/07/2021
12/02/2021
11/01/2021
10/13/2021
10/13/2021
10/13/2021
09/13/2021
09/13/2021
09/13/2021
09/13/2021
07/19/2021
07/19/2021
07/19/2021
07/19/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/24/2021
06/24/2021
06/24/2021
06/15/2021
06/15/2021
06/15/2021
05/06/2021
05/04/2021
04/30/2021
04/12/2021
04/12/2021
04/12/2021
03/15/2021
03/15/2021
03/15/2021
03/05/2021
02/15/2021
02/15/2021
02/11/2021
02/11/2021
02/10/2021
02/09/2021
01/15/2021
12/21/2020
08/06/2020
08/06/2020
07/14/2020
07/14/2020
07/14/2020
06/12/2020
05/26/2020
04/19/2020
03/11/2020
03/11/2020
03/02/2020
03/02/2020
02/17/2020
11/10/2020
11/10/2020
11/09/2020
11/09/2020
11/09/2020
10/14/2020
10/14/2020
10/14/2020
10/14/2020
09/16/2020
09/16/2020
09/15/2020
09/15/2020
09/04/2020
08/11/2020
08/06/2020
07/14/2020
07/14/2020
06/12/2020
06/12/2020
06/10/2020
06/05/2020
06/03/2020
05/26/2020
05/06/2020
05/05/2020
05/05/2020
04/15/2020
04/15/2020
04/09/2020
03/13/2020
03/11/2020
03/09/2020
02/20/2020
02/17/2020
01/16/2020
01/14/2020
01/13/2020
01/07/2020
09/04/2019
08/13/2019
05/06/2019
04/24/2019
03/22/2019
03/18/2019
03/13/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
02/26/2019
01/14/2019
01/02/2019
01/02/2019
12/17/2019
12/12/2019
12/11/2019
12/09/2019
11/11/2019
11/11/2019
11/06/2019
11/06/2019
10/25/2019
10/18/2019
10/17/2019
10/15/2019
10/14/2019
10/14/2019
10/11/2019
10/03/2019
09/25/2019
09/23/2019
09/09/2019
09/06/2019
09/06/2019
09/06/2019
09/05/2019
09/04/2019
09/04/2019
09/04/2019
09/03/2019
08/28/2019
08/28/2019
08/26/2019
08/19/2019
08/13/2019
08/13/2019
08/12/2019
08/12/2019
08/09/2019
08/09/2019
07/29/2019
07/19/2019
07/19/2019
07/19/2019
07/17/2019
07/17/2019
07/16/2019
07/16/2019
07/16/2019
07/10/2019
07/03/2019
06/24/2019
06/21/2019
06/21/2019
06/10/2019
06/10/2019
06/07/2019
06/07/2019
06/07/2019
06/03/2019
06/03/2019
06/03/2019
06/03/2019
05/23/2019
05/22/2019
05/21/2019
05/20/2019
05/20/2019
05/20/2019
05/17/2019
05/17/2019
05/13/2019
05/13/2019
05/10/2019
05/08/2019
05/08/2019
05/08/2019
05/08/2019
05/03/2019
05/03/2019
04/29/2019
04/29/2019
04/22/2019
04/22/2019
04/19/2019
04/17/2019
04/17/2019
04/10/2019
04/10/2019
04/10/2019
04/03/2019
04/03/2019
04/03/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/22/2019
03/22/2019
03/18/2019
03/15/2019
03/15/2019
03/04/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
02/27/2019
02/27/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/18/2019
02/18/2019
02/18/2019
02/18/2019
02/06/2019
02/04/2019
02/04/2019
02/01/2019
02/01/2019
01/31/2019
01/30/2019
01/29/2019
01/28/2019
01/28/2019
01/28/2019
01/25/2019
01/25/2019
01/25/2019
01/23/2019
01/18/2019
01/18/2019
01/18/2019
01/18/2019
01/16/2019
01/10/2019
01/10/2019
01/10/2019
01/09/2019
01/07/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
12/06/2018
12/03/2018
11/07/2018
11/05/2018
11/02/2018
10/25/2018
10/23/2018
10/23/2018
10/12/2018
10/08/2018
10/02/2018
09/25/2018
09/04/2018
08/17/2018
08/17/2018
08/13/2018
07/25/2018
07/24/2018
05/31/2018
05/25/2018
05/16/2018
05/03/2018
05/01/2018
05/01/2018
04/26/2018
04/18/2018
04/10/2018
04/04/2018
04/02/2018
03/30/2018
03/29/2018
03/27/2018
03/26/2018
03/20/2018
03/16/2018
02/06/2018
01/05/2018
01/04/2018
01/04/2018
12/18/2018
09/12/2018
07/19/2018
03/28/2018
12/20/2017
12/12/2017
12/06/2017
11/30/2017
11/27/2017
11/22/2017
11/17/2017
11/03/2017
10/25/2017
10/18/2017
09/28/2017
09/27/2017
09/19/2017
09/18/2017
08/31/2017
08/31/2017
08/14/2017
08/02/2017
07/24/2017
07/20/2017
07/14/2017
06/29/2017
06/28/2017
06/12/2017
05/26/2017
05/23/2017
05/05/2017
04/12/2017
04/11/2017
04/10/2017
04/05/2017
03/27/2017
03/23/2017
03/20/2017
03/20/2017
03/20/2017
03/17/2017
03/10/2017
02/21/2017
02/17/2017
02/16/2017
02/08/2017
02/08/2017
01/26/2017
01/24/2017
01/19/2017
01/19/2017
01/10/2017
01/10/2017
12/13/2017
12/06/2016
11/18/2016
11/16/2016
11/14/2016
11/08/2016
11/01/2016
10/20/2016
10/17/2016
10/12/2016
10/05/2016
09/28/2016
09/14/2016
08/22/2016
08/10/2016
07/28/2016
07/27/2016
07/13/2016
06/24/2016
06/23/2016
06/02/2016
06/02/2016
05/26/2016
05/25/2016
05/23/2016
05/20/2016
05/20/2016
05/18/2016
05/17/2016
05/16/2016
05/13/2016
05/04/2016
04/27/2016
04/19/2016
04/18/2016
04/11/2016
04/06/2016
04/04/2016
04/04/2016
03/28/2016
03/24/2016
03/23/2016
03/22/2016
03/17/2016
03/17/2016
03/15/2016
03/07/2016
02/23/2016
02/18/2016
02/18/2016
02/09/2016
02/05/2016
01/27/2016
01/26/2016
01/22/2016
01/19/2016
01/13/2016
01/07/2016
12/15/2015
12/15/2015
12/15/2015
12/08/2015
11/19/2015
11/10/2015
11/03/2015
10/28/2015
10/27/2015
10/26/2015
10/19/2015
10/06/2015
10/05/2015
09/24/2015
09/10/2015
09/01/2015
08/19/2015
08/14/2015
08/12/2015
08/04/2015
07/30/2015
07/27/2015
07/10/2015
07/10/2015
07/08/2015
07/01/2015
06/29/2015
06/22/2015
06/18/2015
06/15/2015
05/15/2015
05/13/2015
05/13/2015
05/05/2015
05/04/2015
04/28/2015
04/28/2015
04/22/2015
04/21/2015
04/13/2015
04/10/2015
04/10/2015
03/30/2015
03/26/2015
03/18/2015
03/18/2015
03/17/2015
03/12/2015
03/10/2015
02/27/2015
02/19/2015
02/18/2015
02/17/2015
02/06/2015
02/04/2015
02/02/2015
01/27/2015
01/23/2015
01/21/2015
01/20/2015
01/15/2015
01/15/2015
01/15/2015
01/06/2015
12/19/2014
12/12/2014
12/10/2014
12/05/2014
12/02/2014
11/19/2014
11/17/2014
11/10/2014
11/06/2014
11/06/2014
11/01/2014
10/22/2014
10/21/2014
10/16/2014
10/09/2014
10/06/2014
10/06/2014
10/03/2014
10/02/2014
09/30/2014
09/23/2014
09/23/2014
09/18/2014
09/17/2014
09/16/2014
09/15/2014
09/11/2014
09/11/2014
09/09/2014
09/04/2014
08/27/2014
08/26/2014
08/25/2014
08/04/2014
08/01/2014
07/29/2014
07/25/2014
07/24/2014
07/02/2014
06/26/2014
06/26/2014
06/25/2014
06/23/2014
06/18/2014
06/18/2014
06/05/2014
06/03/2014
05/20/2014
05/16/2014
05/14/2014
05/06/2014
04/24/2014
04/17/2014
04/11/2014
04/10/2014
04/04/2014
04/04/2014
04/03/2014
04/03/2014
04/01/2014
04/01/2014
03/21/2014
03/20/2014
03/20/2014
03/20/2014
03/20/2014
03/11/2014
03/07/2014
03/05/2014
02/25/2014
02/20/2014
02/18/2014
02/18/2014
02/14/2014
02/10/2014
02/10/2014
02/07/2014
02/06/2014
02/04/2014
01/29/2014
01/28/2014
01/28/2014
01/16/2014
02/12/2014
11/19/2013
11/14/2013
11/13/2013
11/05/2013
11/04/2013
11/01/2013
10/30/2013
10/25/2013
10/22/2013
10/21/2013
10/20/2013
10/20/2013
10/16/2013
10/16/2013
10/10/2013
10/02/2013
09/26/2013
09/25/2013
09/18/2013
09/10/2013
08/19/2013
08/08/2013
08/05/2013
08/02/2013
07/24/2013
07/24/2013
07/23/2013
07/22/2013
07/22/2013
07/22/2013
07/19/2013
07/18/2013
07/18/2013
07/09/2013
07/02/2013
06/25/2013
06/18/2013
06/17/2013
06/13/2013
06/12/2013
06/12/2013
06/12/2013
06/03/2013
05/21/2013
05/16/2013
05/16/2013
05/07/2013
04/30/2013
04/29/2013
04/29/2013
04/11/2013
04/04/2013
04/04/2013
04/01/2013
03/26/2013
03/25/2013
03/25/2013
03/22/2013
03/20/2013
03/19/2013
03/13/2013
03/13/2013
03/11/2013
03/07/2013
03/04/2013
03/04/2013
03/04/2013
02/27/2013
02/21/2013
02/20/2013
02/05/2013
01/31/2013
01/30/2013
01/24/2013
01/16/2013
01/03/2013
01/02/2013
12/10/2012
11/30/2012
11/21/2012
11/20/2012
11/20/2012
11/19/2012
11/19/2012
11/15/2012
11/15/2012
11/14/2012
11/13/2012
11/12/2012
11/12/2012
11/08/2012
11/02/2012
11/01/2012
10/17/2012
10/11/2012
09/24/2012
09/19/2012
09/12/2012
08/29/2012
08/03/2012
07/18/2012
07/17/2012
06/28/2012
06/19/2012
06/12/2012
06/01/2012
05/31/2012
05/31/2012
05/24/2012
05/21/2012
05/18/2012
05/14/2012
05/01/2012
04/30/2012
04/20/2012
04/18/2012
04/18/2012
04/13/2012
04/03/2012
04/02/2012
03/30/2012
03/28/2012
03/22/2012
03/22/2012
03/21/2012
03/21/2012
03/05/2012
02/13/2012
02/13/2012
02/09/2012
02/09/2012
01/27/2012
01/26/2012
01/19/2012
01/17/2012
01/11/2012
01/09/2012
01/04/2012
12/13/2012
09/12/2012
12/14/2011
12/09/2011
12/09/2011
12/08/2011
12/01/2011
12/01/2011
11/21/2011
11/17/2011
11/17/2011
11/16/2011
11/14/2011
11/14/2011
11/03/2011
11/02/2011
11/01/2011
10/27/2011
10/23/2011
10/19/2011
10/14/2011
10/12/2011
10/11/2011
10/05/2011
10/04/2011
09/29/2011
09/28/2011
09/22/2011
09/22/2011
09/13/2011
09/07/2011
09/01/2011
08/25/2011
08/24/2011
08/24/2011
08/19/2011
08/12/2011
08/11/2011
08/11/2011
08/05/2011
08/01/2011
08/01/2011
07/28/2011
07/21/2011
07/21/2011
07/19/2011
07/07/2011
07/06/2011
07/05/2011
06/29/2011
06/27/2011
06/26/2011
06/23/2011
06/20/2011
06/17/2011
06/15/2011
06/13/2011
06/11/2011
06/07/2011
06/03/2011
06/01/2011
05/26/2011
05/24/2011
05/23/2011
05/17/2011
05/17/2011
05/13/2011
05/12/2011
05/04/2011
04/26/2011
04/25/2011
04/21/2011
04/08/2011
04/01/2011
03/31/2011
03/31/2011
03/28/2011
03/21/2011
03/16/2011
03/16/2011
03/10/2011
03/08/2011
03/03/2011
02/28/2011
02/25/2011
02/24/2011
02/24/2011
02/22/2011
02/21/2011
02/18/2011
02/17/2011
02/16/2011
02/16/2011
02/15/2011
02/15/2011
02/14/2011
02/10/2011
02/08/2011
02/07/2011
01/31/2011
01/31/2011
01/31/2011
01/20/2011
01/19/2011
01/18/2011
01/14/2011
01/13/2011
01/11/2011
01/07/2011
01/06/2011
01/05/2011
01/05/2011
03/02/2011
12/28/2010
12/21/2010
12/21/2010
12/21/2010
12/17/2010
12/17/2010
12/15/2010
12/14/2010
12/14/2010
12/09/2010
12/09/2010
12/02/2010
11/19/2010
11/16/2010
11/15/2010
11/10/2010
10/27/2010
10/26/2010
10/15/2010
10/12/2010
10/08/2010
10/07/2010
10/05/2010
10/01/2010
09/30/2010
09/24/2010
09/20/2010
09/18/2010
09/15/2010
09/01/2010
08/25/2010
08/24/2010
08/04/2010
08/03/2010
07/30/2010
07/29/2010
07/28/2010
07/26/2010
07/23/2010
07/23/2010
07/08/2010
07/06/2010
06/18/2010
06/17/2010
06/17/2010
06/10/2010
06/09/2010
06/02/2010
05/26/2010
05/25/2010
05/24/2010
05/14/2010
05/13/2010
05/12/2010
05/11/2010
05/06/2010
05/03/2010
04/28/2010
04/27/2010
04/26/2010
04/22/2010
04/22/2010
04/22/2010
04/20/2010
04/19/2010
04/16/2010
04/09/2010
04/05/2010
04/01/2010
03/31/2010
03/30/2010
03/25/2010
03/11/2010
03/10/2010
03/05/2010
03/01/2010
02/18/2010
02/17/2010
02/16/2010
02/11/2010
02/11/2010
02/05/2010
01/29/2010
01/28/2010
01/21/2010
01/14/2010
01/11/2010
02/10/2010
12/23/2009
12/22/2009
12/17/2009
12/04/2009
11/25/2009
11/17/2009
11/04/2009
11/03/2009
10/29/2009
10/27/2009
10/26/2009
10/19/2009
10/15/2009
10/15/2009
10/13/2009
10/09/2009
10/08/2009
10/05/2009
10/01/2009
09/30/2009
09/28/2009
09/27/2009
09/27/2009
09/27/2009
09/27/2009
08/19/2009
07/15/2009
07/01/2009
06/24/2009
06/18/2009
06/01/2009
05/20/2009
05/04/2009
04/20/2009
04/03/2009
03/18/2009
03/04/2009
02/18/2009
02/04/2009
01/15/2009
12/31/2008
12/17/2008
12/05/2008
11/24/2008
11/03/2008
10/21/2008
10/06/2008
09/22/2008
09/05/2008
08/06/2008
07/17/2008
07/02/2008
06/13/2008
06/02/2008
05/15/2008
05/07/2008
04/14/2008
04/04/2008
03/19/2008
03/06/2008
02/26/2008
02/20/2008
01/17/2008
12/28/2007
12/19/2007
12/07/2007
11/20/2007
10/31/2007
10/16/2007
10/03/2007
09/18/2007
08/24/2007
07/27/2007
06/19/2007
06/01/2007
05/16/2007
05/02/2007
04/17/2007
04/07/2007
03/15/2007
02/20/2007
01/31/2007
01/12/2007
12/28/2006
12/18/2006
11/28/2006
11/26/2006
11/03/2006
10/20/2006
09/29/2006
09/14/2006
08/31/2006
06/21/2006
05/31/2006
05/16/2006
04/21/2006
03/31/2006
03/17/2006
03/06/2006
02/16/2006
01/31/2006
07/28/2006
12/29/2005
12/19/2005
11/30/2005
11/18/2005
10/31/2005
10/21/2005
09/30/2005
09/19/2005
08/31/2005
06/30/2005
05/31/2005
05/13/2005
04/29/2005
04/15/2005
03/04/2005
02/18/2005
01/28/2005
01/07/2005
07/29/2005
12/20/2004
12/12/2004
12/03/2004
11/19/2004
11/05/2004
10/22/2004
10/08/2004
09/20/2004
08/10/2004
07/20/2004
06/30/2004
06/11/2004
06/01/2004
05/21/2004
04/30/2004
04/20/2004
03/18/2004
03/02/2004
02/13/2004
01/30/2004
01/19/2004
12/31/2003
11/26/2003
11/14/2003
10/24/2003
10/11/2003
09/23/2003
07/31/2003
07/20/2003
06/20/2003
06/05/2003
05/16/2003
04/18/2003
03/31/2003
03/21/2003
02/28/2003
02/13/2003
01/31/2003
12/13/2002
11/14/2002
11/14/2002
10/31/2002
10/11/2002
09/25/2002
08/30/2002
08/16/2002
08/02/2002
07/12/2002
06/22/2002
05/17/2002
04/30/2002
04/19/2002
03/26/2002
03/08/2002
02/18/2002
01/23/2002
01/10/2002
12/11/2001
11/30/2001
10/31/2001
10/10/2001
09/20/2001
08/31/2001
08/17/2001
08/01/2001
07/12/2001
06/28/2001
05/31/2001
05/11/2001
04/30/2001
03/30/2001
03/14/2001
02/13/2001
01/25/2001
01/10/2001
06/19/2001
12/22/2000
12/08/2000
11/27/2000
11/08/2000
10/23/2000
10/05/2000
09/22/2000
09/01/2000
08/18/2000
07/10/2000
06/19/2000
06/02/2000
05/15/2000
05/03/2000