SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1262

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 6, 1996

      The Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No.1262 with Senate Committee amendments.

      This bill would establish a pilot program to provide for economic development in non-growth areas of the Pinelands that is compatible with the environmentally sensitive nature of the area. The Pinelands comprehensive management plan and the accompanying land use regulations impose restrictions on opportunities for development in many municipalities in the Pinelands area, especially those within the non-growth area. However, some development is possible in these rural towns. This bill would establish a pilot program to promote economic development in communities in the Pinelands where large portions of the municipality are within an environmentally sensitive area, there are large areas of State property in the municipality, limited sites are available for economic development, sewer service is unavailable, and there are no resources available for planning or economic development activities. The Pinelands Commission, in cooperation with several municipalities that meet these criteria, would develop a program to identify economic development opportunities that complement regional requirements for resource protection and provide assistance and planning to attract such development to the area. The commission would be required to issue a report concerning the program within two years of the effective date of the act.

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that any economic development activities authorized by the bill would be required to be compatible with the environmentally sensitive nature of the Pinelands area. In addition, the committee made purely technical amendments to the bill.