BELVIDERE, NEW JERSEY– November 6, 2002 – The Warren County Planning Department is conducting a public information meeting on Thursday, November 14th for the Countywide Strategic Master Plan and Transportation Plan. All residents as well as business and property owners in the county are invited to attend. The meeting will be held at the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Liberty Township. The main entrance is on Rt. 46.

David Dech, Director of the Warren County Planning Department, will review the progress of the Steering Committee in completing the plan. The Steering Committee, which consists of representatives of each of the county’s towns, boroughs and townships, recently discussed a draft set of planning goals that are based on issues the members identified.

"A clear set of draft goals to guide future development in the County is being developed," Dech noted. The key issues and draft goals will be presented for public consideration at the meeting.

Freeholder John DiMaio commented at a recent Freeholder meeting that "it does make sense that we try to keep the growth in our centers. Otherwise you end up with situations like the areas between Fairfield and Parsippany, which sort of grows, and everything between is just a long group of strip malls. We certainly do not need that."

The planning study is seeking to improve the link between land use and transportation planning decisions while balancing the quality of life, environment and economy in Warren County. The Planning Department is being assisted with the study by planning consultants from Edwards and Kelcey in Morristown, NJ and Medina Consulting in Hackettstown, NJ.