N.J. Admin. Code § 7:36-6.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:36-6.4 - Application requirements

(a) For a project in the Standard Acquisition, Site Specific Incentive Acquisition, or Urban Aid Acquisition funding award category, a local government unit shall submit all of the following:

1. A completed application on a form obtained from Green Acres. The application shall identify the local government unit, 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 local government unit's contact person for the project, and include the certification of the person authorized by the enabling resolution required under (b)2 below to submit the application.

i. The local government unit 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 local government unit shall include estimated costs of professional land surveying, appraisal, and preliminary assessment services; estimated costs of relocation services and demolition of structures (if applicable); and an estimate of any other allowable project costs in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:36-4.10;

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 local government unit, authorizing the submission of a Green Acres application and the execution of the project agreement and declaration described in N.J.A.C. 7:36-9.1(a) and identifying the person authorized to act in these matters on behalf of the local government unit;

3. The Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) submissions that are prepared by the local government unit in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:36-6.5 and that are complete and accurate as of the date of the application;

4. A narrative description of how and the extent to which the project meets the award criteria under N.J.A.C. 7:36-7.1;

5. 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 numbers, 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, N.J.S.A. 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, N.J.S.A. 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, N.J.S.A. 13:9B-1 et seq., if they exist; or

(3) If the documents listed under (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;

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

7. Proof of publication of the notice of public hearing held under N.J.A.C. 7:36-6.2(b), and copy of the minutes of the hearing;

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

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

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

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

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

1. A completed application on a form obtained from Green Acres. The application shall identify the local government unit, provide a brief description of the project, specify the estimated cost of acquisition and the estimated funding request amount, identify the local government unit's contact person for the project, and include the certification of the person authorized by the enabling resolution required under (b)2 below to submit the application.

3. An Open Space and Recreation Plan, if one was not previously submitted and approved by Green Acres or if the Plan has changed and/or been amended since last approved by Green Acres;

4. The Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) submissions that are prepared by the local government unit in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:36-6.5 and that are complete and accurate as of the date of the application;

5. Proof of publication of the notice of public hearing held under N.J.A.C. 7:36-6.2(b), and copy of the minutes of the hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to inform the public that the local government unit is requesting Green Acres funding to accomplish the acquisition goals established in the local government unit's Open Space and Recreation Plan; and

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

(c) Green Acres shall send a letter to the local government unit 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. A project site inspection may also include an examination of the maintenance of other parkland held by the local government unit and an evaluation of the areas to be served by the acquisition project.

(f) A local government unit 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 local government unit 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 § 7:36-6.4