Business View Civil & Municipal | July 2022

72 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 Unfortunately, though, Jefferson Township had some more lemons roll its way. In the State of New Jersey, legislation was passed in 2004 to preserve open spaces for water resources. It’s called the Highlands Legislation in the northern part of the state. Preservation of land is certainly good, but Wilsusen contends that it’s hurt them economically. “Because of that legislation, there are two different areas – a preservation area and a planning area. In a planning area, you can pretty much do what you could normally do for land use, not a lot of restrictions on what you could build. But if you are in the preservation area, there are strict provisions on what you can do.” For example, single family homes must be built on at least a one-acre minimum piece of property. Wilsusen clarifies, “We’re 80% in that Highlands region, which has really crushed us when it comes to any new development. in 2019, we had less than half a dozen Airbnbs,” says Wilsusen. “Now we’re up to 25. So that’s becoming very popular.” Education is strong in Jefferson Township, as well. Wilsusen is a graduate of Jefferson Township Public Schools and believes “public education is what you put into it… we have a good school system.” The area is also home to Kean University. Within the past few years, Kean opened their Skylands Campus, dubbed the “classroom in the trees.” The university transformed an old religious retreat into an environmental studies mecca – some of the classrooms even have sliding doors. “They open the doors and you’re looking into this thousand acres of woods and lake. It is cool,” Wilsusen says. “It’s going to be another good economic engine for the area. It will drive more people in. I’m so impressed with what they did there. It’s beautiful.” The district will be a leader in academic excellence while developing healthy, well-rounded, resourceful students who are positive, contributing members of local and global communities. www.jefftwp.org 31 Route 181, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 973-663-5780 Six schools serve 2600 students in grades pK-12 with a transition program for students 18-21 in a bucolic setting in close proximity to NYC and mass transit Jefferson Township High School offers three specialized academies: STEM; Business & Finance; and Multimedia, Broadcast, and Journalism which provides students with up to 24 college credits Recognized as one of US News & World Report's America's Best High Schools Recipient of College Board's AP Honor Roll Recognition Rigorous Academic program including 21 Advanced Placement courses, as well as several college-level concurrent and dual enrollment courses Recognized as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation Six schools received RAMP recognition from ASCA for our outstanding comprehensive school counseling programs Offers full-service Child Study Teams to service our special education students Students in Kindergarten attend a full-day program five days a week Offers over 100 co-curricular and athletic programs for students in grades K-12 Community recognized in the top 10 safest communities in New Jersey by Safewise SO MANY REASONS TO BE A FALCON