The opposite is true. Local governments must retain primary authority for making local land use decisions for reasons of accountability and local knowledge. But local planning can and should be guided by overarching state growth objectives and requirements since the effects of local decisions don t stop at the county line. Traditional town designs following familiar, centuries-old patterns, can accommodate higher densities without sacrificing privacy, safety or comfort by providing a variety of housing types. The tax base of local communities is terribly weakened by today s sprawl.
Unmanaged development is difficult and expensive to provide with public services.
In addition, traditional local rural industries such as farming, forestry, tourism and recreation endangered by sprawl will be protected. Managed growth is better for the environment, more cost-efficient for local governments which keeps taxes down, and more profitable for developers. New Jersey can no longer afford sprawl.