SENATE, No. 1945

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 20, 1997

 

 

By Senator CODEY

 

 

An Act concerning certain cinema houses and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.

 

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

 

    1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, municipal ordinances concerning the regulation of theatres and cinema houses may establish different requirements for each such location depending upon the number of theatres situated at a particular site.

 

    2 a. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, municipal ordinances concerning the licensure and regulation of theatres and cinema houses may establish different requirements for each such location, depending upon the number of theatres situated at a particular site.

    b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a municipal governing body shall not issue or authorize the issuance of a license for a cinema house containing six or more theatres unless the applicant:

    (1) submits an environmental impact statement that has been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

    (2) submits a traffic impact statement that has been approved by the Department of Transportation in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

    (3) submits an emergency crowd control contingency plan that has been approved by the Division of State Police in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill).

 

    3. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that set forth the contents required in an environmental impact statement for cinema houses containing six or more theatres and that establish the procedure for application and approval thereof. Such statements shall address all potential environmental impacts attributable to such land uses, including, but not limited to, issues of: air, water, noise and light pollution.

 

    4. The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that set forth the contents required in a traffic impact statement for cinema houses containing six or more theatres and that establish the procedure for application and approval thereof. Such statements shall address all potential traffic impacts attributable to such land uses, including, but not limited to: entry, in order to prevent congestion on adjacent thoroughfares; egress, in order to prevent delays in case of emergency evacuations; and circulation patterns.

 

    5. The Superintendent of State Police shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that set forth the contents required in an emergency crowd control contingency plan for cinema houses containing six or more theatres and that establish the procedure for application and approval thereof. Such plans shall address all potential emergency crowd control issues attributable to such land uses, including, but not be limited to, issues of: staffing of private security forces; the need for police presence on site; and egress from theatres in case of fire or other emergency.

 

    6. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would authorize municipal governing bodies to establish different criteria for approval in their ordinances concerning the regulation and licensing of theatres and cinema houses depending upon the number of theatres situated at a particular location.

    The bill would specifically prohibit municipal governing bodies from issuing licenses for cinema houses containing six or more theatres at a particular location unless the applicant submits an environmental impact statement approved by the Department of Environmental Protection, a traffic impact statement approved by the Department of Transportation and an emergency crowd control contingency plan approved by the Division of State Police. The bill would require the heads of these departments to adopt rules and regulations to set forth


the contents of the impact statements and plans and the procedures for their application and approval.

 

 

                             

 

Establishes certain requirements for certain multiplex movie theatres.