New Jersey. "Built-out"?

In the Record of July 29, 2014 Michele S. Byers reports on some of New Jersey's firsts.  After talking about feel-good firsts--light bulbs, cultivated blueberries, seashore resorts, Byers relates that "New Jersey is the first and only state where all counties are classified as metropolitan areas."  There are an average of 1,030 people for every square mile.

In addition to being metropolitan New Jersey is headed for another first--the first state to be fully "built-out".  Build-out is defined as all be property being either preserved or developed--no tracts of open space in private hands.   Think of it: every piece of property has come on the market and been developed or re-developed (with housing or retail or churches, etc.)  or has been preserved (mostly with government money).

In this case the battle over the three acres in Fair Lawn should be seen in a larger context.  Is this land going to become part of preserved open space or is it going to be developed?  Fair Lawn, Bergen County, and New Jersey can use all the open space it can get.

Bergen County just announced 2014 Open Space Land Acquisition and Preservation Grant Program .  There is money available for purchasing open space and for historic preservation.  I hope Fair Lawn is paying attention.