"Suburban Sprawl" is defined by the Sierra Club as "irresponsible, often poorly-planned development that destroys green space, increases traffic and air pollution, crowds schools and drives up taxes". By that definition, New Jersey is certainly one of the most sprawl-afflicted states.

People move to our New Jersey suburbs for many reasons, whether it is to have a larger home, put their children into better schools, or be closer to better golf courses. Once they make that move, they want to preserve open space as much as possible. However, developers want to continue to develop suburban areas, even if it means destroying the very characteristics that attracted new residents in the first place. As population increases, more businesses move there, more roads and schools must be built there, more water and sewer services must be developed, traffic increases, and travel slows. The cycle is seemingly endless and the issue of sustainable growth and maintaining the lifestyle that caused one to move to the suburbs is apparent.

One potential solution to the problem of traffic increase if to build more and better public transportation. The National Governors' Association has a document on this subject for those who are interested.

Another solution to one of the problems of suburban sprawl can be found in Open Space laws that some municipalities have enacted. In these laws, municipalities agree to spend some amount to preserve open space in their communities by purchasing property that comes onto the market and might otherwise be developed. The municipality then leaves the property undeveloped or develops it as parkland and playgrounds for the use of the community. Franklin Township provides an example of how open space preservation can work through its Franklin Township Open Space, Recreation and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Into the Autumn of 2005, over 32% of the township's land base had been permanently preserved as open space, parkland, or farmland. The voters themselves generally agree to such laws as public questions on the ballot.