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NJDEP TO
EXPEDITE URBAN/GROWTH AREA ENVIRONMENTAL
PERMITTING
To spur redevelopment activity in
urban areas and facilitate the channeling of development to
areas designated for growth under the State Development and
Redevelopment Plan ("State Plan"), NJDEP is seeking public
input on a new permitting mechanism called a Statewide Sector
Permit ("SSP"), which allows NJDEP to pre-approve qualifying
areas of eligible municipalities for permits and approvals
under certain NJDEP programs. The NJDEP programs to be
encompassed in the SSP would include wetlands, stream
encroachment, waterfront development (coastal zone approvals
are already covered under a separate sector permit program),
stage 1 wastewater treatment works approval, water main
extensions, construction related dewatering permits and
historic perservation. The SSP would enable the municipality
to incorporate those NJDEP approvals into the municipality’s
approvals granted under the Municipal Land Use Law.
To be eligible, the municipality
would have to either (1) receive approval from the State
Planning Commission ("SPC") for the designation of one or more
centers under the State Plan, (2) receive SPC endorsement of
its municipal master plan and ordinances, (3) receive SPC
approval of its master plan and ordinances as part of a
strategic regional plan, or (4) contain a designated Urban
Coordinating Council neighborhood with an approved
neighborhood empowerment plan. To receive an SSP, the
municipality would have to enact natural resource protection
strategies to protect drainage ways, riparian lands,
floodplains, threatened and endangered species habitat, forest
cover and steep slopes and meet other qualifying criteria.
SSPs would be issued for five year terms, during which the
municipality would be responsible for project review, subject,
however, to oversight (and possible project veto) by NJDEP.
The draft is available
at:
www.state.nj.us/dep/special/sector.
(Manko Gold &
Katcher Client Alert - 3/01) |
