In a joint rezoning effort between the Township of Jackson and the Pinelands Commission, the Asbury Park Press has reported that the commission approved amendments to the township’s zoning ordinances in which approximately 233 acres of land were rezoned to reduce the potential development of approximately 1,400 homes to 28.
According to the article:
In theory, 28 future homes could be built under this zoning. However, there’s also an unusual intergovernment agreement with Manchester that would allow a density transfer onto adjacent tracts, and used to build up to 250 units in planned retirement community construction in Manchester, where sewers are available to serve future homes.
The ordinances cap a four-year effort by Pinelands and local officials to shift future development away from the upper branches of the Toms River, with the aim of preserving water quality and threatened and endangered species in the surrounding forest. The northern pine snake and rare plant species were among the concerns of Pinelands officials, while Jackson’s municipal government has been anxious to reduce future residential development and the coming tax burden from more demands for school and municipal services.
