The draft was officially released Nov. 30 at a meeting of the Highlands Council in Chester before a public gathering of about 15.  According to reports, inclement weather may have contributed to the scant attendance.

There are three public hearings for the plan: Feb. 6 at 4 p.m., at Morris County Haggerty Education Center, 53 East Hanover Ave., Morristown; Feb. 11 at 6 p.m., at Passaic County Community College, One College Blvd., Paterson; and, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m., at Voorhees High School, 256 County Rt. 513, Glen Gardner.

The next general meeting of the council is Jan. 17 at 10 a.m., at the Highlands Council headquarters. The plan can be viewed in full at the Highlands link or at the council office in Chester.

The comprehensive document (including a DVD) describes in detail the existing Highlands region, the goals/policies/objectives, the programs and the implementation.  Helen Heinrich, professional planning consultant to the New Jersey Farm Bureau, said in a telephone interview about the plan, that they “would be looking closely at the goals and policies of the Programs section to see if comments presented by the Farm Bureau were considered in the final draft.” Heinrich added that the state legislature still has not backed the plan with any funding.

For further information visit http://www.highlands.state.nj.us/