Highlands doesn't really effect much except the building of new mcmansions in areas where it's just stupid to build anyway. It was supposed to create the bank that other states have to let me sell my development rights to someone wanting to knock down 1945-1955 saltboxes in the post war burbs and build at an even higher density. For example, my local and state gov pay me say 150k to surrender rights on my 14 buildable lots. I buy the land next door and some sweet new equipment with the $ and keep on kicking ass. The collective now has my 45 acres purifying their water and sequestering co2 til the cows come home and my farm stays in the family forever. Now 2 years later some dude wants to knock down a row of homes in lets say Piscataway and go crazy with some condos. That local gov and state says "hey, your plan has too many units to comply with our current zoning" but we have some credits to sell you! They take my 14 homes and say convert it to say 40 more units for him and sell it to him for 750k. Perfect. Happy farmer, happy developer and the public wins as well. This part of the act has never been implemented so while farms in surrounding states get saved everyday Nj open space gets absorbed by Nature Conservancy(SCUMBAGS!!) never to be seen again. So to the OPs future....up here is gonna be woods, farms or homes for the independently wealthy/self-employed up here in the coming decadesDare I say you like the results of the Highlands Act ?
not just baiting here, you seem to be well vested in the area, and would like your perspective on how it has had an impact.
somewhat relevant to the OP because it greatly affects land values and how the landscape may look in the future.
