Sponsored by:
Assemblyman LOUIS M. MANZO
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman CHARLES T. EPPS, JR.
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman BRIAN P. STACK
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires State to hold local public hearing prior to any major development for recreation and conservation purposes at a State park.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the development of State parks and forests, and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (1) The State shall hold at least one public hearing prior to the commencement of a major development for recreation and conservation purposes at a State park. The public hearing shall be held in the municipality in which the State park is located, at least 60 days prior to the commencement of the proposed major development. At least 15 days in advance of the date of the public hearing, the State shall publish at least one notice thereof in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the municipality, and provide written notice of the hearing to the respective governing body, planning board and clerk of the municipality and the county.
(2) In the event that the State park is located in more than one municipality, at least one public hearing shall be held in one of the municipalities wherein the State park is located. Additional public hearings shall be held in other municipalities wherein the State park or forest is also located upon request of the governing body of any such municipality. Notice of any such additional public hearings shall be provided in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
b. The Department of Environmental Protection shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations, as appropriate, to implement the provisions of this act. The rules and regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, defining what constitutes a major development for recreation and conservation purposes for the purposes of this act.
c. For the purposes of this act, “recreation and conservation purposes” means the same as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-3).
2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the State to hold at least one public hearing, after giving appropriate public notice as prescribed in the bill, prior to the commencement of any major development for recreation and conservation purposes at a State park. The required public hearing would be held in the municipality in which the State park is located at least 60 days prior to the proposed major development at the State park. In the event that the State park is located in more than one municipality, at least one public hearing shall be held in one of the municipalities wherein the State park is located. Additional public hearings shall be held in other municipalities wherein the State park or forest is also located upon request of the governing body of any such municipality.