Flemington - The Hunterdon County freeholders are proposing an elected planning council for the Highlands region, not the gubernatorially-appointed commission contained in a bill before the state Legislature.

In a resolution opposing the Highlands legislation, the freeholders said the residents of the Highlands region, which covers seven counties in northern New Jersey, should not be subject to decisions affecting their communities without the opportunity to speak through elected representatives.

"Let the people who want to be in on this put their ideas to the people of the Highlands," said Freeholder Director Marcia Karrow. "That's democracy."

The Highlands legislation amounts to a land grant that "takes equity and puts it in the hands of a commission of political people," said Freeholder George Melick.

In their resolution, the freeholders said the regional master plan and mandatory municipal compliance called for by the Highlands bill will strip local governments of their constitutional and legal authority to control local zoning and planning. They also said the transfer of development rights program contained in amendments to the bill prohibit landowners to seek compensation through the courts.

The bill fails to consider the strategic plans being developed by counties and municipalities to manage growth and provides state aid to compensate only municipalities for lost tax revenue, not counties. Karrow said county officials have estimated a minimum tax increase of 5 cents per $100 of assessed value for 2005 if the legislation is approved.

"People in Hunterdon and Warren counties will have no say. It's absolutely taxation without representation," Karrow said.

Freeholder Nancy Palladino said everyone is in favor of slowing development and preserving natural resources, but the bill does not accomplish those goals. Palladino also criticized the Legislature for filing amendments to the bill just one day prior to the final public hearing, when criticism of the legislation and calls for amendments had been heard several weeks before.

"The intent of the bill has merit (but) the legislation is absolutely horrible. It's horrendous," said Freeholder George Muller. "We don't believe this bill should be passed. It's very important it's not passed because it doesn't benefit the people of the state."

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Reporter Katherine Blok can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by email at kblok@express-times.com.

Copyright 2004 The Express-Times.