S422

An Act establishing a redevelopment permit and approval assistance pilot program in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and supplementing P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.).

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

"Authority" means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).

"Qualified rehabilitation entity" means an entity organized or authorized to do business under the New Jersey statutes which shall have as one of its purposes the construction or rehabilitation of residential or non-residential buildings, the provision of affordable housing, the restoration of abandoned property, the revitalization and improvement of urban neighborhoods, or similar purpose, and which shall be well qualified by virtue of its staff, professional consultants, financial resources, and prior activities as determined by the authority to carry out the rehabilitation of abandoned properties.

2. a. The executive director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, establish and administer a pilot program to provide assistance to qualified rehabilitation entities seeking to obtain necessary permits and approvals concerning the redevelopment and revitalization of abandoned properties.

b. The authority shall administer the program as follows:

(1) Upon the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the authority shall establish a pilot program, to be administered Statewide, in which the authority shall identify and include 12 properties in the State which have been deemed poor or risky investments due to problems associated with the properties, including, but not limited to, environmental hazards, infrastructural hazards, title disputes, and governmental or legal claims, or other problems which may interfere with, limit, or prolong the process of redevelopment or revitalization, which properties shall include, but not be limited to, those properties determined to be abandoned properties pursuant to P.L.2003, c.210 (C.55:19-78 et al.), the area known as the Roebling factories property in the city of Trenton, and the Vista site, with surrounding factories, located in the Great Falls National Historical Park section of the city of Paterson.

(2) Within 90 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the authority shall establish an application process in which the authority shall accept applications from qualified rehabilitation entities seeking participation in the program, and upon the 91st day following enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the authority shall make available the applications and shall, within a reasonable time frame thereafter, commence approving applications for participation in the program. The authority shall assist participating qualified rehabilitation entities with the process of obtaining permits and approvals necessary to commence and continue redevelopment upon the properties identified by the authority for inclusion in the program. The authority is authorized to collect fees in connection with applications for, and participation in, the pilot program as the authority deems reasonable.

(3) Within three years following the effective date of this act, the executive director shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature as provided under section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), containing an evaluation of the pilot program. The report shall provide the executive director’s opinion as to whether the pilot program should be continued and, if so, recommendations for further improvement, modifications, and implementation.

3. The authority shall establish and maintain the pilot program with such moneys:

(1) collected as fees charged to qualified rehabilitation entities in connection with applications for, and participation in, the pilot program as the authority deems reasonable;

(2) as may be available to the authority from programs administered by the authority or other State agencies, as appropriate; and

(3) such other moneys as may be made available.

4. The executive director of the authority shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C:52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire five years thereafter.

STATEMENT

This bill directs the executive director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, establish and administer a “pilot program” to assist qualified rehabilitation entities with the process of obtaining permits and approvals necessary to redevelop certain properties. The bill directs EDA to identify and include in the pilot program 12 New Jersey properties that have problems which interfere with their redevelopment, such as environmental hazards, infrastructural hazards, title disputes, and governmental or legal claims which may interfere with, limit, or prolong the process of redevelopment and revitalization. Qualified rehabilitation entities would apply to participate in the program. The bill authorizes EDA to charge fees to program applicants to help fund the pilot program, and also authorizes EDA to use other available moneys for that purpose.

The authority is to fund the program using moneys: (1) collected as fees charged to qualified rehabilitation entities in connection with applications for, and participation in, the pilot program as the authority deems reasonable; (2) as may be available to the authority from programs administered by the authority, or other State agencies, as appropriate; and (3) other moneys as may be made available.

Finally, the bill directs the executive director of the EDA to, within three years of the commencement of the implementation of the pilot program, submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature providing the executive director’s opinion as to whether the pilot program should be continued and, if so, recommendations for further improvement, modifications, and implementation.