To encourage the most appropriate use or development of all lands throughout the Township while conserving the value of property, with reasonable consideration for the character of various zoning districts and their peculiar suitability for particular uses that will be compatible with the development patterns and general welfare in neighboring municipalities and the surrounding region, all in accordance with the Township adopted Master Plan.

To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural or man-made disasters;

To provide adequate light, air and open space;

To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and development concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons, neighborhoods, communities and preservation of natural resources and the environment;

To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of agricultural, residential, conservation, recreational, commercial and industrial uses and open spaces, both public and private;

To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangement;

To promote the conservation of historic sites, open spaces, energy resources and valuable natural resources and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment through the improper use of land;

To encourage senior citizen community housing construction;

To prevent the overcrowding of land and to avoid undue concentrations of population, and to these ends, to regulate the height, design, appearance, number of stories and the size of buildings and other structures as well as their placement on the land;

To encourage and regulate new techniques and designs which conserve energy;

To encourage residential cluster and planned development which conserves land;

To implement the objectives of the Pinelands Protection Act and the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan and to conform with the minimum standards contained therein, as said standards pertain to the Township of Maurice River. These objectives with respect to the Pinelands are to protect, preserve and enhance the significant values of the resources thereof, including natural, ecological, agricultural, archaeological, historic, scenic, cultural and recreational resources;

To provide sufficient quality housing opportunities to meet the Council on Affordable Housing's identified housing needs as set forth in the adopted Township Master Plan;

To preserve and protect the coastal areas of the Township's rivers and bay shore areas while allowing recreational and limited commercial use of these natural waterways;

To delineate the existing villages within the municipality and encourage and promote their continued viability and vitality through new and innovative zoning techniques, and seek to have said villages recognized and coordinated with the State, regional, and local plans and regulations; and

To protect public health, safety and general welfare.