Category: PLC Public Notices

Township of Howell, Monmouth County–Deerwood Park–Lease for Roller Derby Practice Rink

 

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:  Township of Howell

Park Name/Location:  

Deerwood Park
2740 Lakewood-Allenwood Road, Howell
Block 42, p/o Lot 79.67

Proposed Lessee:  Jersey Junior Roller Derby Thrashers (a nonprofit organization)

Proposed Leased Premises:  See Exhibit A

Purpose of Lease:  Non-exclusive use of outdoor hockey rink for roller derby practice and equipment storage.

Proposed Lease Term:  5 years

Proposed Compensation:  $1 per year

 

For additional information, please contact:  

Joseph A. Clark, Township Manager
Telephone:  (732) 938-4500 extension 2102
Email: jclark@twp.howell.nj.us

Pending and Approved Farm Leases on Local Parkland

 

Please click on the link below to see a list of proposed farm leases currently being reviewed by the OTPLA Public Land Compliance Section, and previously approved farm leases.

Any questions about these leases should be directed to the point of contact listed on the linked document.

 

2023 Pending and Approved Farm Leases

Request for Public Comment–WPRB Exemption Requests

 

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

WATERSHED PROPERTY REVIEW BOARD

www.wprb.nj.gov

 

 

REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

 

TAKE NOTICE that the Watershed Property Review Board (WPRB) has received the following requests for exemptions from the Watershed Protection and Moratorium Act, P.L. 1988, c. 163, as amended by P.L. 1990, c.19:

 

  • 2023-0001: Borough of Kinnelon, Morris County (Block 33801, Lots 101 and 102; Block 33901, Lot 101; and Block 34401, Lot 101) – The Borough of Butler requests an exemption to swap approximately 30 acres of watershed land with 30 acres currently held by Our Lady of Magnificat Catholic Church which will become watershed land. Application link.

 

  • 2023-0002: Township of Millburn, Essex County (Block 5302, Lot 5) – New Jersey American Water requests an exemption to convey eight acres of watershed land to Woodmont Properties, LLC in support of developing a residential housing complex with affordable housing units. Application link.

 

  • 2023-0003: Township of West Milford, Passaic County (Block 16906, Lot 3) – The City of Newark requests an exemption to convey a 0.212-acre temporary construction easement on watershed property to the New Jersey Department of Transportation in support of the Route 23 Northbound Bridge Over Pequannock River Project. Application link.

 

Please click on the link next to each project to review the exemption request.

 

A 30-day public comment period on each request will begin on May 1, 2023. Written comment on these three requests may be directed to WPRB@njdepwptest.net or NJDEP, Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration, P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 401-07 Trenton, NJ 08625-0420, Attn: Jessica Patterson/WPRB. Commenters should clearly reference which application is being commented on in either the subject line of any email or in the beginning of any letter submitted. Public comment will be accepted until May 31, 2023. The three requests may be considered at a future WPRB meeting. For more information regarding the above applications as well as upcoming WPRB meetings, please visit http://wprb.nj.gov.

 

DATED: May 1, 2023

 

Scoping Hearing–Princeton, Mercer County–Community Park South

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Applicant:  Princeton, Mercer County

Park Name:   Community Park South

Park Location:  380 Witherspoon Street, Princeton (Block 6902, Lot 2)

Proposed Action:

Princeton Municipality has contacted the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection proposing to legalize the past diversion of approximately three acres of Community Park South, 380 Witherspoon Street, Princeton NJ 08540 in Mercer County, (Block 6902 Lot 2) in connection with the use of Green Acres encumbered parkland for the Municipal Complex Building and parking lot. Princeton will compensate for the past diversion with replacement parkland elsewhere within the municipality.

Hearing Date/Time:  April 3, 2023 at 7 PM

Hearing Location:

Princeton Municipal Complex
Main Meeting Room
400 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08540

Public Comments Accepted Through:  April 17, 2023

Conservation Restriction Release Hearing–Township of Howell, Monmouth County–Partial Release of Open Space Deed Restriction on Capped Landfill

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Requestor:  County of Monmouth

Restricted Property:

Lakewood-Allentown Road

Block 42, Lots 38, 93, 93.01, 94 and 94.01

Township of Howell, Monmouth County

Description of Release Request:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received a request from Monmouth County for a partial release of an open space deed restriction on County-owned land that was created as a condition of the December 22, 1995 Settlement Agreement  by, and between, the County of Monmouth, the NJDEP, Waste Management, Inc. and Waste Disposal Inc., related to a capped landfill in Howell Township, Monmouth County.  The deed restriction is contained in the deed by which the County acquired the former landfill from Waste Disposal, Inc.

The County has requested a partial release of the conservation restriction to allow for the development of facilities that produce electrical energy from wind, solar, photovoltaic, or other technologies on a portion of the surface of the capped landfill, which requires development in areas on the surface of the landfill that would otherwise be prohibited pursuant to the terms of the conservation restriction.  On November 25, 2019, the Department’s Bureau of Solid Waste Permitting informed the County that it does not object to the request for a partial release of the conservation restriction in the context of the original settlement agreement but advised the County that it would be necessary to obtain all other permits and approvals for its project.  On April 20, 2020, Waste Management of New Jersey and the County executed a Declaration of Partial Release of Deed Restriction to memorialize their mutual agreement, as parties to the original settlement agreement and the deed conveying the former landfill to the County, to removing the deed restriction from a portion of the former landfill.  The Township of Howell also signed the 2020 Declaration of Partial Release in its capacity as a party, with the County, in an interlocal service agreement related to the former landfill.

The NJDEP was a party to the original settlement agreement but not the 2020 Declaration of Partial Release.  However, under the Conservation Restriction and Historic Preservation Restriction Act, N.J.S.A. 13:8B-1 through -9, the NJDEP Commissioner has oversight over all conservation restriction releases, whether the NJDEP is a party to the restriction or not, and a public hearing is required before the Commissioner can approve the partial release.  On June 16, 2022, the County filed a formal request with the NJDEP for the partial release of the conservation restriction.

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 13:8B-5, the County will be conducting a public hearing on the proposed partial release in Howell Township  at the time and in the location listed below.

Additional information about the proposed project may be found on Howell Township’s website at:

Related Documents:  

June 16, 2022 Request for Partial Release of Conservation Restriction

April 20, 2020 Partial Release of Deed Restriction

Howell Township Planning Board Application Document Distribution Sheet #1

Howell Township Planning Board Application Document Distribution Sheet #2

Howell Township Planning Board Application Exhibit List (includes maps of the proposed solar project)

Hearing Date/Time:  February 27, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:  

Howell Township Municipal Building
4579 U.S. Route 9
Howell Township, NJ 07731

Public Comments Accepted Through:  February 27, 2023 [see public notice linked above for contact information]

Change in Use Hearing–City of Margate, Atlantic County–Construction of Interpretive Center at Lucy Park

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Applicant:  City of Margate

Park Name:  Lucy Park

Park Location:

9210 Atlantic Avenue, Margate City, Atlantic County

Block 26, Lot 2

Proposed Action: 

The City of Margate is proposing to make several changes to approximately 0.47 acre of Lucy Park.  The existing snack bar structure, gift shop and storage shed will be removed.  A  new two-story Interpretive Visitors Center structure, containing a gift shop, exhibits and public restrooms will be constructed on the park.  The project also includes parking space for a food truck.  A set of site plans, originally submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office for review in June 2022, may be found here.  [Please note:  Minor modifications to the site plans may have been made since they were first submitted to the NJDEP.]

Hearing Date/Time:  March 2, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location: 

Historic City Hall
1 South Washington Road
Margate, New Jersey

Public Comments Accepted Through:  March 16, 2023

Please click the link above for the full Public Hearing Notice, including addresses where written comments should be sent.

Minor Diversion/Disposal Application–Township of Hanover, Morris County–Realignment of Patriots Path Trail Corridor

Last modified on December 14th, 2022 at 4:14 pm

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Applicant:  Township of Hanover, Morris County

Parkland Name:  Patriot’s Path Trail Corridor

Parkland Location: 

801-849 Route 10 East
Block 4001, Lots 12, 13 and 14
Township of Hanover, Morris County

Description of Proposed Diversion/Disposal:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received an application from the Township of Hanover requesting approval to modify a trail easement it holds as part of the Patriot’s Path.  Realignment and modification of the trail easement is needed as part of the development of the Hanover Towne Center project under a redevelopment plan approved by the Township.  The proposed relocation is classified as a minor disposal of Green Acres encumbered parkland

As compensation for the proposed minor disposal of parkland, the Township and the developer have agreed to relocate and expand the Patriot’s Path public access and conservation easement within the same redevelopment site.  The current easement covers 0.84 acre of land.  The new easement will restrict 1.04 acres of land, and will include a pocket park.  In addition, the new easement location will enable a safe pedestrian crossing from the Path across Route 10 at a signalized intersection.

A public hearing on the proposed disposal application, and the associated conservation restriction release, will be conducted as set forth below.  Additional information about this application may be found under the “Township News” on the homepage entitled “Hanover Towne Center–Green Acres Disposal” at www.hanovertownship.com.

Hearing Date/Time:  January 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM    [Snow Date:  February 9, 2023 at 7:00 PM]

Hearing Location:  

Hanover Township Municipal Building
1000 Route 10
Whippany, NJ 07981

Public Comments Accepted Through:  January 27, 2023 [see public notice linked above for contact information]

Conservation Restriction Release Hearing–Township of Hanover, Morris County–Minor Realignment of Patriots Path Trail Corridor

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

Requestor:  Township of Hanover, Morris County

Restricted Property:

801-849 Route 10 East (Block 4001, Lots 12, 13 and 14)

Township of Hanover, Morris County

Description of Release Request:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received a request from the Township of Hanover to modify a trail easement it holds as part of the Patriot’s Path.  Realignment and modification of the trail easement is needed as part of the development of the Hanover Towne Center project under a redevelopment plan approved by the Township.

As compensation for the proposed release and easement modification, the Township and the developer have agreed to relocate and expand the Patriot’s Path public access and conservation easement within the same redevelopment site.  The current easement covers 0.84 acre of land.  The new easement will restrict 1.04 acres of land, and will include a pocket park.  In addition, the new easement location will enable a safe pedestrian crossing from the Path across Route 10 at a signalized intersection.

A public hearing on the proposed release, and the associated minor diversion of Green Acres encumbered parkland, will be conducted as set forth below.  Additional information about this request may be found under the “Township News” on the homepage entitled “Hanover Towne Center–Green Acres Disposal” at www.hanovertownship.com.

Hearing Date/Time:  January 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM    [Snow Date:  February 9, 2023 at 7:00 PM]

Hearing Location:  

Hanover Township Municipal Building
1000 Route 10
Whippany, NJ 07981

Public Comments Accepted Through:  January 27, 2023 [see public notice linked above for contact information]

Rulemaking Stakeholder Meetings

Last modified on February 8th, 2023 at 6:00 pm

Starting in November 2022, the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration (OTPLA) conducted a series of stakeholder meetings to obtain public input on Subchapters 25 and 26 of the Green Acres Program rules, N.J.A.C. 7:36.  The Green Acres Program rules may be found at:  https://njdepwptest.net/wp-content/uploads/greenacres/pdf/njac7_36.pdf 

Subchapters 25 and 26 govern the maintenance of Green Acres encumbered parkland and other post-funding responsibilities, including the diversion and disposal application processes. The Green Acres rules are not set to expire until December 2025. However, since the Department has not made substantial changes to the rules since 2005, we plan to update the rules before they expire. As part of this update, we will be moving these two subchapters (25 and 26) into a new chapter specific to OTPLA.

A list of “hot issues” that may be addressed in the upcoming rulemaking may be found here.  This list was intended to spur discussion at the stakeholder meetings, and is not intended to reflect a particular policy decision or position on the part of the Department.

Please note that this stakeholder process relates only to Subchapters 25 and 26; a future rulemaking will be initiated by the Green Acres Program relative to the remainder of the Green Acres Program rules at N.J.A.C. 7:36.

 

The stakeholder meetings have now concluded, but videos of each session may be viewed online:

  1. November 29, 2022 from 10 AM to 1PM–targeted to nonprofit Green Acres funding recipients–meeting recording
  2. December 13, 2022 from 2 PM to 5 PM–targeted to local government stakeholders (municipalities and counties)–meeting recording
  3. December 15, 2022 from 9 AM to noon–targeted to local government stakeholders (municipalities and counties)–meeting recording
  4. January 11, 2023 from 10 AM to noon–targeted to nonprofit Green Acres funding recipients–meeting recording
  5. January 18, 2023 from 10 AM to noon–targeted to local government stakeholders (municipalities and counties)–meeting recording
  6. January 24, 2023 from 1 PM to 3 PM–open to the general public–meeting recording
  7. January 26, 2023 from 1 PM to 3 PM–open to the general public–meeting recording
  8. January 31, 2023 from 6 PM to 8 PM–open to the general public–meeting recording

 

The Department will be accepting written public comment on these subchapters through February 28, 2023.  If you wish to submit a written comment, or have a question about the existing or future rules, please send an email to us at otpla@njdepwptest.net and include the word “Rulemaking” in the subject line.

Additional updates about the rulemaking process will be posted on this page as they are available.