New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 50 - PINELANDS COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN › Subchapter 5 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LAND USES AND INTENSITIES › Part II - PINELANDS MANAGEMENT AREAS › Section 7:50-5.13 - Goals and objectives of Pinelands Management Areas and Parkway Overlay District

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) The Preservation Area District is the heart of the Pinelands environment and represents the most critical ecological region in the Pinelands. It is an area of significant environmental and economic values that are especially vulnerable to degradation. This large, contiguous, wilderness-like area of forest, transected by a network of pristine wetlands, streams and rivers, supports diverse plant and animal communities and is home to many of the Pinelands' threatened and endangered species. The area must be protected from development and land use that would adversely affect its long-term ecological integrity.
(b) Forest Areas are similar to the Preservation Area in terms of their ecological value and, along with the Preservation Area, serve to provide a suitable ecological reserve for the maintenance of the Pinelands environment. These undisturbed, forested portions of the Protection Area support characteristic Pinelands plant and animal species and provide suitable habitat for many threatened and endangered species. These largely undeveloped areas are an essential element of the Pinelands environment, contain high quality water resources and wetlands, and are very sensitive to random and uncontrolled development. Although the overall type and level of development must be strictly limited, some parts of the Forest Areas are more suitable for development than others provided that such development is subject to strict environmental performance standards.
(c) Agricultural Production Areas are areas of active agricultural use, together with adjacent areas of prime and unique agricultural soils or soils of statewide significance, which are suitable for expansion of agricultural operations. In order to maintain agriculture as an essential element of the Pinelands region, the level and type of development must be controlled to prevent incompatible land uses from infringing upon these important land resources.
(d) Special Agricultural Production Areas are discrete areas within the Preservation Area District which are primarily used for berry agriculture or horticulture of native Pinelands plants. They represent a unique and essential element of the Pinelands economy and, because they are generally compatible with the ecological values of the Preservation area, are a part of the essential character of the Pinelands. In order to maintain these agricultural uses in a manner which recognizes their integral relationship to the Preservation Area, very strict limits on non-agricultural land uses are necessary.
(e) Rural Development Areas are areas which are, on an overall basis, slightly modified and may be suitable for limited future development subject to strict adherence to the environmental performance standards of N.J.A.C. 7:50-6. They represent a balance of environmental and development values that is intermediate between the pristine Forest Areas and existing growth areas; however, some parts are more suitable for development than others due to existing development and an absence of critical ecological resources.
(f) Pinelands Villages and Towns are existing spatially discrete settlements in the Pinelands. These traditional communities are appropriate for infill residential, commercial and industrial development that is compatible with their existing character.
1. Pinelands Area Villages are:
i. Bamber Lake;
ii. Beckerville;
iii. Belcoville;
iv. Belleplain;
v. Blue Anchor;
vi. Brookville;
vii. Cassville;
viii. Chatsworth;
ix. Collings Lake;
x. Cologne-Germania;
xi. Cumberland-Hesstown;
xii. Delmont;
xiii. Dennisville;
xiv. Dorchester-Leesburg;
xv. Dorothy;
xvi. Eldora;
xvii. Elm;
xviii. Elwood;
xix. Estell Manor;
xx. Folsom;
xxi. Green Bank;
xxii. Indian Mills;
xxiii. Jenkins;
xxiv. Lake Pine;
xxv. Landisville;
xxvi. Laureldale;
xxvii. Legler;
xxviii. Lower Bank;
xxix. Milmay;
xxx. Mizpah;
xxxi. Nesco-Westcoatville;
xxxii. New Gretna;
xxxiii. New Lisbon;
xxxiv. Newtonville;
xxxv. North Dennis;
xxxvi. Petersburg;
xxxvii. Pomona;
xxxviii. Port Elizabeth-Bricksboro;
xxxix. Port Republic;
xl. Richland;
xli. Sweetwater;
xlii. Tabernacle;
xliii. Tansboro;
xliv. Taunton Lake;
xlv. Tuckahoe;
xlvi. Vanhiseville;
xlvii. Vincentown;
xlviii. Warren Grove;
xlix. Waterford Works;
l. Weekstown; and
li. Winslow.