Unfortunately, we are responsible for the growth of our communities. By not being more involved in local decision-making we have lost our farmlands, natural landscapes, and the rural character of our communities. Time and time again, good planning yields to development projects, and by letting development run amok we are complicit in our own high taxes and allow the degradation of the environment in which we live. If we don't get more involved in community planning, there will be more of the same.
Fortunately, more of us are concerned about growing populations and how it affects our communities. Our concerns come in different forms, some are concerned about traffic congestion, some about growing school populations, and others are concerned about tax increases associated with the expansion of schools, roadways, sewers, and other infrastructure. Some communities are so concerned, they have voted for tax increases to help control growth through open space and farmland preservation programs. Taxes for these preservation programs have been approved by Ocean and Monmouth County voters to help preserve the rural character of our communities.
Based on the 2000 Census, Ocean County was the fastest growing county in the state with its population rising 145 percent since 1970 making it the fastest growing county for three decades. Ocean County also had six of the top 10 fastest-growing towns in the state. They are Barnegat, Stafford, Lacey, Little Egg, Manchester and Berkeley. Monmouth County's population has also grown considerably since 1970. The fastest growing town in Monmouth County was Millstone, which grew by an incredible 254 percent. Monmouth County also moved above the state average in population density. In 2000, the average density in New Jersey was 1,132 people per square mile. Monmouth County had 1,304 people per square mile.
Population projections show continued growth. In 1990 Monmouth and Ocean Counties hosted 986,327 residents, by 2000 that number grew to 1,126,217 residents, and by the year 2020, it is estimated that these two counties will support 1,278,695 residents, a 30% increase since 1990.
Focusing growth on a watershed scale is even more dramatic. The Manasquan River Watershed is approximately 82 square miles, which converts to about 52,738 acres of land, which includes part of Ocean County. Monmouth County's portion of the watershed is approximately 48,555 acres. A closer examination of land use in Monmouth County suggests that only 17% of the county is available for development after accounting for lands already developed, protected wetlands, State and county parklands, federally owned lands, and open water. What remains is about 8,200 acres of either farmland or forested lands to be targeted for development.
The Manasquan River Watershed Association is also concerned about growth. Over the years we have learned that growth brings degraded water, air, and habitat quality. Our job to protect the River becomes much more difficult with every development project. Growth brings parking lots, roadways, automobiles, buildings, and sewers at the expense of farmland, open space, and forests. With this comes non-point source pollution, commonly known as people pollution. It is the dripping oil and gas fumes from our cars, chemicals from our lawns, rainwater channelization through stormwater management, water consumption from strained aquifers and reservoirs, sewer waste from our homes and businesses, and habitat loss from bulldozers, chainsaws and lawn equipment.
If communities are concerned about growth and associated impacts, they must decide how much growth is enough and the type of growth appropriate for a specific area. Studies indicate that local governments must support mixed land uses in order balance their budgets. These studies demonstrate that for every tax dollar collected by local government, $1.18 is spent on direct services for residential properties. For commercial and industrial properties only $0.36 is spent on direct services for every tax dollar collected and for farmland/open space only $0.40 is spent for every tax dollar collected. Therefore, local governments cannot balance their budgets without considering the proper mix of land uses.
As a community, can we provide homes to everyone who wants one or do we try to preserve open space and remaining farmlands? Do we want to develop all available lands or continue to find methods to protect lands for open space and community preservation? As residents we must decide what our communities should become over time. We each are responsible for letting our local leaders know how we feel about our community. Residents must become more involved in local planning efforts and let their local leaders know how they feel about the place they call home.