City of Elizabeth, Union County–Elizabeth Waterfront Park Recreation Pier–Lease for Ferry Service Pilot Program

 

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.14, the NJDEP has been asked to review the following proposed lease of Green Acres encumbered parkland:

Park Owner:  City of Elizabeth

Park Name/Location:  

Elizabeth Waterfront Park Recreation Pier
101-117 Front Street
Block 825, Lot 6

Proposed User:  Elizabeth Fast Ferry, LLC

Facilities:  Recreation Pier

Proposed Use:  Use of the public pier for a pilot program to provide passenger ferry service to New York City.

Length of Use:  6 months (May 1, 2025 through October 31, 2025)

Proposed Compensation:  $16/landing

For additional information, please contact:  

Jorge Estrada, Esq.
Special Counsel
50 Winfield Scott Plaza
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
Phone: (908) 820-4009

City of Atlantic City, Atlantic County–Bader Field and Chelsea Heights Field–Facility Use Agreements (Baseball Facilities)

 

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.13, the NJDEP has been asked to review the following proposed lease of Green Acres encumbered parkland:

Park Owner:  City of Atlantic City

Park Name/Location:  

Bader Field
Block 794, Lot 1

Chelsea Heights Park
Block 773, Lots 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8

Pop Lloyd Stadium
Block 658, Lot 1

Proposed User:  Perfect Game, Inc.

Facilities:  Sandcastle Stadium at Bader Field and turf fields at Chelsea Heights Park and Pop Lloyd Stadium

Proposed Use:  Use of facilities for exhibition games on weekends in June through October

Length of Use:  5 months (June 1, 2025 through October 31, 2025)

Proposed Compensation:  $200 per game at Bader Field and $300 per game at Chelsea Heights Field and Pop Lloyd Stadium ($116,000 total compensation over lease term)

 

For additional information, please contact:  

Peter T. Sallata, Esq.
City Solicitor’s Office
Phone: (609) 347-5540
Email: psallata@acnj.gov

Township of Cranford, Union County–Crane-Phillips House–Lease to Cranford Historical Society

 

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.13, the NJDEP has been asked to review the following proposed lease of Green Acres encumbered parkland:

Park Owner:  Union County

Park Name/Location:  

Crane-Phillips House
124 N. Union Avenue
Cranford, New Jersey 07016

Block 196, Lot 2.01

Proposed Lessee:  Cranford Historical Society, Inc. (a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization)

Proposed Leased Premises:  Crane-Phillips House Museum

Purpose of Lease:  Maintenance and operation of the museum, including educational programming, on behalf of Union County.  The Crane-Phillips House is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.  The Cranford Historical Society has maintained and operated this property for over 60 years in partnership with Union County.

Proposed Lease Term:  25 years

Proposed Compensation:  $1.00

For additional information, please contact: 

Kevin Campbell
Assistant Union County Counsel
Telephone:  (908) 527-4250
Email: kcampbell@ucnj.org

City of Margate, Atlantic County–Public Beach–Proposed Lease for Ventura’s Greenhouse Restaurant

 

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.13, the NJDEP has been asked to review the following proposed lease of Green Acres encumbered parkland:

Park Owner:  City of Margate

Park Name/Location:  

Public Beach between S Decatur Avenue and S Benson Avenue

Block 25, Lot 4

Proposed Lessee:  Yo-Leven, Inc., d/b/a Ventura’s Greenhouse Restaurant

Proposed Leased Premises:  Beach bar with pergola, fence, tables, bar, storage

Purpose of Lease:  Seasonal beach bar for the benefit of the beach going public

Proposed Lease Term:  3 years, for seasonal use between May 1st and October 31st of each year

Proposed Compensation:  $25,000 for the first year, with a 3% increase every year thereafter

For additional information, please contact: 

Lisa Hagan
Margate City Clerk’s Office
Phone: 609-822-2605 ext. 104
Email: hagan_lisa@margate-nj.com

 

Final Hearing–City of Newark, Essex County–Newark Riverfront Park–Diversion of Access Easement

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Applicant:  City of Newark, Essex County

Park Name/Location:

Newark Riverfront Park

938-948 McCarter Highway
Block 1, Lot 60

950-964 McCarter Highway
Block 2, Lot 29

Proposed Action:

The City of Newark has applied for approval to grant a permanent access easement and a temporary construction easement through a portion of Green Acres encumbered parkland along McCarter Highway, designated on the tax maps of the City of Newark, Essex County, as Block 1, Lot 60 (938-948 McCarter Highway) and Block 2, Lot 29 (950-964 McCarter Highway), to allow vehicular and pedestrian access in connection with the redevelopment of the adjacent property, designated as Block 1, Lot 46.02 (formerly Block 1, Lots 30 and 46).

The proposed grantee of the easements is 930 McCarter Urban Renewal LLC, the City’s designated redeveloper under its River Public Access and Redevelopment Plan.  Consistent with the redevelopment plan, Block 1, Lot 46.02 will be developed with a mixed-use project that includes a 20% affordable housing component.  A copy of the redevelopment plan may be found here:  Newark Riverfront Redevelopment Plan

The proposed permanent access easement will affect an approximately 0.075-acre (3,260 square foot (“sf”)) portion of Block 1, Lot 60 and an approximately 0.080-acre (3,498 sf) portion of Block 2, Lot 29. The temporary construction easement will affect an approximately 0.114-acre (4,947 sf) portion of Block 1, Lot 60 and an approximately 0.011-acre (482 sf) portion of Block 2, Lot 29.

As compensation for the proposed diversion and temporary use, the City proposes to dedicate as parkland an approximately 0.621-acre (27,032 sf) portion of Mulberry Commons, designated as Block 167, Lot 10.02 (8-12 Columbia Street) and Block 166, Lot 1.03 (160-172 Mulberry Street), which the City previously designated for that purpose.

Maps of the proposed diversion area and proposed replacement land are here:

General Location Map
Map of Proposed Disposal Area
Map of Proposed Replacement Parcels

Hearing Date/Time:  Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 6 PM

Hearing Location: 

This hearing will be held virtually on the Zoom platform using the following link:

https://NewarkNJ.zoom.us/j/86245437553?pwd=o2Vm2oeRJh3hyjEQGxIKvlSgLOfBFk.1

Meeting ID: 862 4543 7553

Passcode: 001789

Information about how to join the hearing by telephone is set forth in the attached public hearing notice.

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Thursday, February 27, 2025

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.  Please include “SHC 0714013 Newark Waterfront Park Diversion” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

City of Brigantine, Atlantic County–Brigantine Golf Links–Lease for Clubhouse Restaurant

 

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.13, the NJDEP has been asked to review the following proposed lease of Green Acres encumbered parkland:

Park Owner:  City of Brigantine

Park Name/Location:  

Brigantine Golf Links
1075 N Shore Dr, Brigantine, NJ 08203
https://www.brigantinegolf.com/ 

Block 8501, Lot 1

Proposed Lessee:  To be determined through public bid

Proposed Leased Premises:  Clubhouse restaurant at Brigantine Links Golf Course

Purpose of Lease:  To provide food service to golf course patrons on behalf of the City

Proposed Lease Term:  5 years (exact dates to be determined)

Proposed Compensation:  To be determined through public bid

For additional information, please contact: 

Tiger Platt
City of Brigantine Manager
Telephone:  (609) 266-7600 Ext. 212
Email: tplatt@brigantinenj.gov

Public Hearing–Minor Diversion/Disposal Application–Township of Woodbridge, Middlesex County–Merrill Park–Sewer Line Upgrade

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Applicant:  Middlesex County

Parkland Name/Location: 

Merrill Park
Township of Woodbridge
Block 426, Lot 1.01

Description of Proposed Diversion/Disposal:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received an application from Middlesex County requesting approval to divert 0.088 acre of Merrill Park in connection with a project to upgrade an existing sanitary sewer that passes through the park to prevent sanitary sewer backups. The project will reroute the sewer away from a tributary of the South Branch of the Rahway River and away from a footbridge and the Fairview Avenue Bridge over this tributary to minimize impacts on the park’s natural resources and infrastructure. As compensation for the proposed diversion, the County of Middlesex proposes to remit $25,000 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for deposit into the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund as compensation for the area to be occupied by the new subsurface easement.

A map of the proposed diversion area may be found here:  Map of Proposed Diversion Area

This application has been classified as a minor diversion/disposal of parkland.  Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26.6(c), a public hearing on the proposed diversion/disposal application will be conducted as set forth below.

Hearing Date/Time:  Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:  

Woodbridge Town Hall
1 Main Street
Woodbridge, New Jersey

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Thursday, January 30, 2025

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.  Please include “SHC 1200052 Merrill Park Sewer Line” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

Final Hearing–City of Cape May, Cape May County–Lafayette Street Recreation Area–Disposal for Police Station

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Applicant:  City of Cape May, Cape May County

Park Name:  Lafayette Street Recreation Area

Proposed Action:

The City of Cape May has applied for approval to dispose of 0.14 +/- acre of parkland, which is located along St. John Street near the intersection of St. John Street and Lafayette Street and identified as Block 1061, Lots 44 and 47 of the Official Tax Maps of the City of Cape May, in connection with the proposed relocation of the City’s police station and development of a new police station facility on this site and adjacent non-parkland lots. The existing parkland is located within a designated Overburdened Community and in accordance with Executive Order 23, the Department will be taking Environmental Justice issues into consideration when evaluating the proposed disposal application to the extent not inconsistent with law.

As compensation for the proposed disposal, the City proposes to dedicate as parkland approximately 6.607 +/- acres of City-owned land, commonly known as the Sewell Tract, and identified as Block 1163, Lot 7; Block 1164, Lot 6; Block 1165, Lots 1 and 6; and, Block 1167, Lot 2; and Block 1168, Lot 2 on the Official Tax Maps of the City of Cape May, along with road rights of way to be vacated between these lots.

Maps of the proposed disposal area and proposed replacement parcels, and a rendering of the proposed police station building, are here:

Aerial Map of Proposed Disposal Area
Aerial Map of Proposed Replacement Parcels
Survey of Proposed Replacement Parcels
Police Building Elevation

Hearing Date/Time:  Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 6 PM

Hearing Location: 

City of Cape May City Hall Auditorium
643 Washington Street
Cape May, New Jersey 08204

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.  Please include “SHC 0502001 Cape May Police Station” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

Public Hearing–Minor Diversion/Disposal Application–Township of Hamilton, Mercer County–Relocation of Access Easement

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Applicant:  Mercer County

Parkland Name/Location: 

Nami Tract
Township of Hamilton
Block 2732, Lot 3.01

Description of Proposed Diversion/Disposal:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received an application from Mercer County requesting approval to divert 0.106 acre of parkland, through the conveyance of an access easement to a neighboring property owner, to accommodate the relocation of part of an existing access easement and driveway from property owned by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority onto County-owned Green Acres encumbered property.  The relocation is needed to preserve legal access to properties owned by the County and the neighboring private landowner (Block 2732, Lot 6) to Crosswicks-Hamilton Square Road because of right of way acquisitions by the Authority as part of the Interchange 6 to 9 Widening Project.

As part of the Widening Project, the Authority needed to acquire certain parklands from Mercer County, including interests in Block 2732, Lot 3.01 in Hamilton Township. These interests were acquired pursuant to a prior diversion application which received State House Commission approval on October 27, 2010. At that time, the County and the Authority informed the NJDEP and the Commission that they were still in the process of resolving access issues involving the Nami Tract and the adjacent farm (Lot 6) and that additional approvals might be needed from the NJDEP and the Commission in the future.   The County and the Authority now seek to address the outstanding access issue through the diversion of a 0.106 acre easement in order to relocate the prior access easement, for the benefit of the County, the Authority and the owner of Lot 6, partly onto Authority-owned land and partly onto County-owned land.

As compensation for the proposed diversion, the County will acquire from the Authority and dedicate as Green Acres encumbered open space more than double the land proposed for the diversion. The proposed replacement lands consist of 0.45 acre: (i) a 0.274 acre parcel adjacent to Block 2732, Lot 3.01 and Crosswicks-Hamilton Square Road, and (ii) a 0.176 acre parcel adjacent to Block 2732, Lot 3.01 and Block 2732, Lot 6, both in the Township of Hamilton.

A map and a survey depicting the proposed diversion area and proposed replacement parcels are here:

Nami Tract Minor Diversion Map

Access Road Survey

This application has been classified as a minor diversion/disposal of parkland.  Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26.6(c), a public hearing on the proposed diversion/disposal application will be conducted as set forth below.

Hearing Date/Time:  Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:  

Hamilton Township Public Library
1 Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Way
Hamilton, New Jersey 08619

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Thursday, January 23, 2025

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.  Please include “SHC 1100016 Nami Tract Minor Diversion” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

Diversion Application Information Page–Township of North Bergen, Hudson County–Braddock Park School Trailers

County of Hudson and Township of North Bergen

Green Acres Pre-Application for Braddock Park School Trailers and EMS Building at 43rd Street Park

Disclaimer:

The following pre-application items are posted as a courtesy to the public and may not have been fully reviewed or accepted as complete by the Department.

 

Pre-Application

Parts 1-7

Pre-Application Cover Sheet

  1. Description of the proposed disposal-diversion
  2. Alternatives Analysis
  3. Environmental Assessment Reports
  4. Land Valuation Forms
  5. Preliminary Compensation Proposal
  6. State Plan
  7. Attachment IV Permit Approval Checklist

 

Part 8. Copy of the deeds for the proposed disposal or diversion area and replacement parcel(s)

 

Part 9. Maps

 

Part 10

 

Part 11. Governing Body Resolutions

 

Part 12. Cover Sheet and Checklists

 

Preliminary Assessment Reports

 

UPDATE – October 5, 2021–Green Acres’ Initial Comments on Pre-Application

 

UPDATE – North Bergen and Hudson County’s Response to Pre-Application Completeness Review

April 5, 2022 Response to Green Acres’ October 10, 2021 Completeness Review on Behalf of Hudson County and Township of North Bergen

 

UPDATE – January 31, 2023–Additional Green Acres Comments on Pre-Application

 

UPDATE – March 22, 2023

  • The applicants have requested, and the Department has granted, a 30-day extension of the time to respond to the Department’s January 31, 2023 pre-application review comments (from March 31, 2023 to April 30, 2023).  Since April 30, 2023 is a Sunday, the Department has informed the applicants that it will accept the response on or before Monday, May 1, 2023.

 

UPDATE – May 3, 2023

On May 1, 2023, the applicants filed a response to the Department’s January 31, 2023 Pre-Application Review Comments.  The response is being posted immediately for the benefit of the public, but is still being reviewed by the Department.

Note (5/4/23):  The version of Exhibit IA-10, Alternatives Analysis Chart, that is attached to several of the above response sections is missing the key for the entries in the “NJDOE Ruling” and “NJDOE Reasons” columns.  A copy of the chart that includes the key may be found here.

Please report any additional errors or omissions with this posting to PublicLandCompliance@dep.nj.gov and include “Braddock Park Application Page” in the subject line.

 

UPDATE – February 29, 2024 – Completeness Determination

 

UPDATE – August 5, 2024 – Final Application (Part I) Submittal

Disclaimer:

The following final application items are posted as a courtesy to the public and may not have been fully reviewed or accepted as complete by the Department.

Note:  The Department is awaiting new copies of the files marked “to be posted” because of technical glitches in receiving them from the applicant.  The links will be updated once they are received.

Part 1–Cover Sheet

Part 2–Title Information for Proposed Replacement Lands

Part 3–Surveys

Part 4–Metes and Bounds Descriptions

Part 5–Final Compensation Proposal

Part 6–Public Notice and Sign Locations

Part 7–Additional Requested Information

Part 8–Maps

 

UPDATE–October 31, 2024 Completeness Determination and December 2, 2024 Response

Note: The Department anticipates receiving the Preliminary Assessment Report for 34th Street and Liberty Avenue Right of Way Replacement Parcel on or before December 31, 2024.