Highlands Email to Members

Subject: Joint Legislative Hearing on Saving the Highlands

Dear Friend of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference;

I'm writing you today to make sure you are aware of a huge opportunity to protect critical watersheds and our favorite hiking areas in the New Jersey Highlands.

The NJ Highlands Task Force recently released a comprehensive set of recommendations to protect the region. The Trail Conference's top advocacy priority through the end of June will be passage of legislation based on these recommendations.

We will never again have as good an opportunity to protect the Highlands. There is so much to do in a short amount of time; we need your help to make it happen!

Visit our website at www.nynjtc.org/issues/2004/highlands.html to get more information on the Highlands recommendations and legislation. And please complete the interest form to stay informed and involved.

For example, please consider attending 1 of 4 joint legislative hearings, starting next Tuesday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at the Skylands Manor in Ringwood State Park and continuing at other locations on April 12, 15 & 22.

If you plan to attend a hearing, please notify Ramon McMillan at the Trail Conference office ( office@nynjtc.org or 201-512-9348.) He can also provide you with directions, a summary of the legislation and suggested talking points.

Thank you. I look forward to working with you on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Edward Goodell
Executive Director

P.S. In brief, the Highlands Task Force recommendations include:

• Creation of a core preservation area encompassing half of the Highlands Region (350,000 to 390,000 acres) with stringent and mandatory protections, enhanced land acquisition efforts and provisions for transfer of development rights;
• Establishment of a regional planning council that would set minimum land use standards (i.e.; steep slopes, water, forests, etc.) in the core preservation area and incentives to municipalities for implementation outside the core area;
• Better management of state-preserved land, including "scenic and wild" designations.

V3 Last updated: March 26, 2004   Copyright © 1996-2008  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.