N.J. Admin. Code § 7:36-17.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:36-17.4 - Application requirements

(a) For a project in the Standard Acquisition funding award category, a nonprofit shall submit all of the following:

1. A completed application on a form obtained from Green Acres. The application shall identify the nonprofit, give the project type, indicate the municipality(ies) and county(ies) in which the proposed project site is located, provide a brief description of the project, specify the estimated cost of acquisition and the estimated funding request amount, identify the nonprofit's contact person for the project, and include the certification of the person authorized by the enabling resolution required under (a)2 below to submit the application.

i. The nonprofit shall base the funding request amount on the estimated land value or anticipated purchase price of the proposed project site and not solely on the tax assessed value of the proposed project site. The nonprofit shall include estimated costs of professional land surveying, appraisal, and preliminary assessment services; estimated cost to demolish structures, if applicable; and an estimate of any other allowable project costs in accordance with 7:36-15.9;

2. A certified copy of the enabling resolution, drafted in accordance with an example obtained from Green Acres and approved by the governing body of the nonprofit, authorizing the submission of a Green Acres application and the execution of the project agreement described in 7:36-20.1(a) and identifying the person authorized to act in these matters on behalf of the nonprofit;

3. A narrative description of how and the extent to which the project meets the award criteria under 7:36-18.1;

4. A project reference map with dimensions of at least 11 inches by 17 inches which contains the following information:

i. The project name and location;

ii. The lot and block number(s), and the municipality(ies) and county(ies) in which the proposed project site is located;

iii. The owner(s) of record as of the date of application submission, as well as any adjacent property under the same ownership;

iv. The area of the project site, in acreage or square feet;

v. The dimensions of each lot marked on each perimeter boundary;

vi. Any improvement or structure shown in approximate location on the lots;

vii. If the acquisition of part of a lot is proposed, both the area of the part to be acquired and the area of the remainder shall be denoted;

viii. An appropriate scale relative to the size of the proposed project site so as to allow an appraiser to prepare an accurate appraisal;

ix. An arrow indicating north;

x. The location and area of all known existing easements, road rights-of-way, encroachments, dune and beach areas, and similar features, with the source of such information identified, and any proposed area(s) to be excepted from the project site;

xi. The location and area of all streams, rivers, waterbodies, and associated buffers. Any waterbody classified as Category One pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9B, and the associated special water resource protection area established pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:8, must be shown and labeled;

xii. The location and area of tidelands, available from the Department at www.nj.gov/dep/gis, as determined from New Jersey Tidelands claims maps, conveyance overlays, and atlas sheets;

xiii. The location and area of floodplain, as shown on the New Jersey State Flood Hazard Area maps prepared under the Flood Hazard Area Control Act, 58:16A-50 et seq. and available from the Department at www.nj.gov/dep/gis, or as determined from other State or Federal mapping or from a site delineation;

xiv. The location and area of coastal wetlands, as shown on maps prepared by the Department under the Wetlands Act of 1970, 13:9A-1 et seq. and available from the Department at www.nj.gov/dep/gis; and

xv. The location and area of freshwater wetlands, available from the Department at www.nj.gov/dep/gis or as determined from:

(1) A wetlands delineation, if one exists, verified by the Department's Land Use Regulation Program or its successor;

(2) Freshwater wetlands maps prepared by the Department under the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act, 13:9B-1 et seq., if they exist; or

(3) If the documents listed under (a)4xv(1) and (2) above do not exist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps, in conjunction with County Soil Surveys published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture;

5. A street map that clearly indicates the location of the proposed project site;

6. Proof of publication of the newspaper notice, and proof that such notice was sent to the clerk of each municipality in which the proposed project site is located, as required at 7:36-17.2(b);

7. Digital images and prints that clearly show the existing conditions at the proposed project site;

8. A local tax map that indicates the lot(s) and block(s) proposed to be acquired;

9. If applicable, letters in support of the project from the general public; civic groups and agencies; local government units; municipal and county planning boards, park commissions, recreation departments, and environmental commissions; user groups; or other organizations;

10. The most recent existing survey of project site, if available;

11. A letter from the nonprofit's attorney certifying that the applicant organization qualifies as a nonprofit under this chapter; and

12. A copy of the nonprofit's by-laws.

(b) For a project in the Planning Incentive funding award category, a nonprofit shall submit all of the following:

i. The nonprofit shall base its funding request amount on the estimated land value or anticipated purchase price of the proposed project site and not solely on the tax assessed value of the proposed project site. The nonprofit shall include estimated costs of professional land surveying, appraisal, and preliminary assessment services; estimated costs to demolish structures, if applicable; and an estimate of any other allowable project costs in accordance with 7:36-15.9;

3. Proof of publication of the newspaper notice, and proof that such notice was sent to the clerk of each municipality in which the proposed project site is located, as required at 7:36-17.2(b);

4. The Open Space and Recreation Plan(s) or other public or private local, regional, or statewide recreation and conservation plan or initiative approved by the Department, on which the nonprofit shall base its acquisition efforts;

5. If applicable, letters in support of the project from the general public; civic groups and agencies; local government units; municipal and county planning boards, park commissions, recreation departments, or environmental commissions; user groups; or other organizations;

6. A letter from the nonprofit's attorney certifying that the applicant organization qualifies as a nonprofit; and

7. A copy of the nonprofit's by-laws.

(c) Green Acres shall send a letter to the nonprofit acknowledging receipt of the application; providing the identification number assigned to the application; and requesting any corrections or clarifications to, or submission of any items missing from, the application, if applicable.

(d) All materials submitted under (a) or (b) above shall become the property of the Department.

(e) Green Acres staff shall conduct one or more project site inspections to verify the statements in the application.

(f) A nonprofit that has submitted an application shall monitor and immediately notify Green Acres of any pending or proposed actions or events affecting the proposed project site such as, but not limited to, any applications made for Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permits or for other Department permits, including, but not limited to, permits for stream encroachment, waterfront development, and sanitary landfill construction or operation; any application made to the Pinelands Commission under the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan for projects in the Pinelands; any application made to the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission under the New Jersey Meadowlands Master Plan for projects in the Meadowlands District; any application for a local building permit or subdivision approval; or any application made to the County Agricultural Development Board or the State Agricultural Development Committee related to the proposed project site. The nonprofit shall also immediately notify Green Acres of any fires, demolitions, floods, natural disasters, donations, easements, leases, or survey discrepancies relevant to or affecting the proposed project site, or changes in ownership of the proposed project site.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:36-17.4