United States Supreme Court Declines to Hear New Jersey Highlands Act Case

 The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear arguments in a case challenging the New Jersey Highlands Act filed by several families who own farmland in Warren, Hunterdon and Morris counties.  The property owners argued that their properties were devalued by the Act because the legislation made it impossible for those properties to be sold for development.  Environmental groups have cheered the Court’s decision.  The Highlands Act is designed to prohibit or restrict development within 860,000 acres of the state which provides most of its drinking water.

 For more on the story, see the following news links:

 The Star-Ledger:  U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to Highlands Act

 The Star-Ledger:  Farmland owners petition U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Highlands Act

 The Star-Ledger:  N.J. appeals court upholds Highlands Act amid landowners’ challenge  

The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Cory K. Kestner, Esq., of McKirdy & Riskin, PA, in the preparation of this article.