Highlands law affecting planned subdivisions

Sparta-Until Governor James McGreevey signs the Highlands Act which was recently approved by the State Senate and Assembly, two building projects in Sparta are left in limbo. Some 50 single-family home are planned for construction on two separate subdivisions within Sparta Township. However, both the North Ridge and Radcliffe subdivisions have yet to get local or state approval to be built. The Highlands legislation, which had the backing of McGreevey before being passed by the Senate and Assembly, will place additional state restrictions on approximately 45 percent of the land in Sparta once it's signed into law. The North Ridge site, located off of Layton Lane and Route 15, and the Radcliffe site, located on Radcliffe Drive just off of West Mountain Road will both be affected. "I don't know why he's waiting to sign to it," said Sparta Township Planner David Troast on Monday. "I'm sure he's waiting for the exact moment he feels is right, but we don't know when that will be." Troast added that Sparta Township has a five-acre requirement for each single-family unit built on those subdivisions. "These rules and regulations will be more stringent if and when the Highlands is signed," said Troast. "Once it does, there may not be any construction allowed on those lots at all." Troast said that until the legislation comes into effect, both projects can attempt to proceed as scheduled, but acknowledged that at this point, township officials are uncertain on how to proceed. "We are not sure what is happening with these types of requests before the bill is signed," he said, "I am not sure what is going to happen."