Anyone driving through Jackson on Veterans Highway (Route 528) or on Toms River Road (Route 571) may have noticed that the once rural character of the area is disappearing, fast. Jackson, being the state’s third largest municipality with close proximity to two major cities and the availability of large, untouched tracts of land, has enticed builders and attracted a migration toward a more comfortable life in “the burbs.”
The ordinances on the books, many from the 1970s, are out of date and out of touch with the reality of Jackson’s current development crisis. It is no longer practical to simply “play catch-up” and amend deficient, and often antiquated, land-use ordinances.
The loopholes that exist have proven too difficult to close. The master plan has long needed to be completely reworked, and most importantly, have its accompanying ordinances rewritten.
The prior administration was on the precipice of making the wholesale changes needed to limit residential growth and encourage smart commercial ratables. They backed down twice. They stopped at a toothless review of the master plan, most notably in 2001, deeming the master plan acceptable. Obviously, this is not the case.
Changes, had they been struck in that time frame, may have prevented numerous large developments that are currently in front of the Planning Board or those approved by the previous administration. And those it could not stop may have been limited in a way to prevent debacles such as the one you might have seen on Grand Boulevard, approved by a previous board.
The mayor and Township Council received a presentation from the Planning Board at the budget workshops to consider the complete remaking of the master plan, and the mayor and council seemed very receptive. I have yet to see mention of this in any of the papers.
I would hope that Jackson residents support the council and avoid the folly of Brick and Toms River and preserve the resources that have made this drastic option necessary. Sup-port the Township Council in their efforts to amend the master plan.
Todd Porter
Jackson