In 1979, because of concern that this unique area would be destroyed by overdevelopment, Governor Brendan T. Byrne declared a moratorium on development in the Pine Barrens.
Certainly, if I had not read The Pine Barrens by John McPhee, I would not have had the kind of interest in the Pinelands that I developed…[4]In his 1977 campaign for re-election, Governor Byrne argued for strong controls over development (against the advice of Democrats in the region).
Democratic Congressman James Florio introduced a bill requiring the state to create a "land management commission" to oversee "greenline parks," of which the Pinelands would be the first.
[5] Republican Senator Clifford P. Case and Democrat Harrison A. Williams Jr. introduced a third bill that was somewhat of a compromise and incorporated ideas from Governor Byrne.
As required by the Act, the commission would consist of seven gubernatorial appointees, seven local county officials, and one appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.
Even the Governor's advisors and his Attorney General's office doubted that he had the power to issue the order, but it did put pressure on the legislature to approve legislation establishing a permanent Pinelands Commission that could override municipal land-use decisions.
[4][5] The Act required the Pinelands Commission to develop a Comprehensive Master Plan controlling land use in the Pine Barrens.
Altogether the Pinelands cover all or parts of 56 municipalities and seven counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Ocean.
[6] The Pinelands Protection Act distinguishes the Preservation Area, which is the remote interior of the Pines, from the surrounding portions.