The Warren County Townships of Pohatcong and Lopatcong have jointly petitioned the Highlands Council for approval of amendments to their previously approved Highlands Center designations. Public Comments on this petition were accepted between February 12 and March 13, 2024. Three comments were received and a comment response document is included as Appendix 1 in the final report below, which details the petition's consistency with the Highlands RMP. This petition was withdrawn by both municipalities.

• Petition for Amended Highlands Center - Consistency Review and Recommendation Report (pdf)
• Public Notice of Comment Period (pdf)

This section contains documents approved or adopted by Lopatcong Township that help implement Highlands Regional Master Plan at the local level. These deliverables were paid for through the Highlands Council Plan Conformance Grant Program. Please be advised that the most recent versions of municipal documents should be obtained directly from the municipality.

• Planning Area Petition Ordinance (2011) (775 Kb pdf)
• Highlands Environmental Resource Inventory (2011) (7.09 MB pdf)
• Master Plan Reexamination Report (2012) (2.86 MB pdf)
• Highlands Referral Ordinance (2013) (1.17 MB pdf)
• Master Plan Highlands Element (2013) (399 KB pdf)
• Highlands Exemption Ordinance (2014) (106 KB pdf) [Municipality is authorized to issue certain Highlands Exemptions]
• Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (2015) (3.14 MB pdf)
• Lopatcong Center Planning Study (2017, 2018) (1.75 MB pdf)
• Master Plan Reexamination Report (2019) (5.65 MB pdf)

Lopactong Township's Amended Petition for Plan Conformance was approved by the Highlands Council on January 19, 2012.

The Highlands Council approved Lopatcong Township's Petition for Plan Conformance on March 17, 2011.

Materials from Public Hearing

• Resolution
• Press Release
• Pictures
• Lopatcong Township Presentation
• Public Hearing: March 17, 2011
• Lopatcong Township Movie

Council Approved Documents

• All documents listed below as one compressed file: Petition Documents Approved by Highlands Council zip file 
• Individual files: 
• Highlands Council Resolution 2011-11 Approval of Lopatcong Township's Petition for Plan Conformance (414 KB pdf)
• Highlands Final Consistency Review and Recommendations Report (290 KB pdf)
• Highlands Implementation Plan and Schedule (170 KB pdf)
• Highlands Municipal Build-Out Report (1.32 MB pdf)
• Adopted Housing Element (199 KB pdf)
  • Adopted Fair Share Plan (329 KB pdf)
• Highlands Environmental Resource Inventory (6.59 MB pdf) 
• Highlands Master Plan Element (9.28 MB pdf)
• Highlands Area Land Use Ordinance (706 KB pdf)
• Highlands Area Land Use Ordinance Exhibits (9.66 MB pdf)

• Municipal Resolution: Notice of Intent (pdf)
• Municipal Resolution: COAH extension (pdf)
• Initial Assessment Grant Report (pdf)
• Highlands Municipal Build-Out Report (pdf)
  • Supporting Documents (zip)