Franklin inches closer to joining Highlands plan

FRANKLIN — The borough council is moving toward including itself in the Highlands Regional Master Plan. But at the same time, the borough has given itself wiggle room — so it can opt out. Franklin’s Borough Council has approved a resolution authorizing its director of planning and community development to apply for a grant from the Highlands Council to undertake a series of studies and analysis that will help it decide whether to join Read more on this topic in the print edition of The Advertiser-News edition of March 19. What is the Highlands Plan? The Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act is a law signed in August 2004 that will preserve open space and protect the state’s greatest diversity of natural resources including the precious water resources that supply drinking water to more than half of New Jersey’s families. The Highlands Act documents the geographical boundary of the Highlands Region and establishes the Highlands Preservation Area and the Highlands Planning Area. It required the department to establish regulations in the Highlands Preservation Area to create a Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council and to develop a regional master plan for the entire Highlands Region. (Source: The New Jersey Highlands Council)