Bill Text: NJ A6214 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Appropriates $80,539,578 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-2)
Status: (Passed) 2022-01-18 - Approved P.L.2021, c.494. [A6214 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A6214-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Appropriates $80,539,578 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act appropriating $80,539,578 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and various Green Acres funds to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"Constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues" means corporation business tax revenues dedicated pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" for the acquisition or development of lands by local government units for recreation and conservation purposes in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq).
"Densely or highly populated municipality" means a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile, or a population of at least 35,000 persons, according to the latest federal decennial census.
"Densely populated county" means a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
"Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19).
"Green Acres bond act" means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354.
"Highly populated county" means a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
"Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48).
"Stewardship activity" means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45).
2. There is appropriated to
the Department of Environmental Protection the following sums for the purpose
of providing grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to
acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 4 of
this act and for the purpose of providing grants or loans, or both, to
assist local government units to develop lands for recreation and conservation
purposes pursuant to section 5 of this act:
a. $76,802,956 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $2,170,956 is available due to interest earnings on the constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues; and
b. $3,736,622 from the "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act, made available due to loan repayments and interest earnings.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" the sum of $76,802,956 to implement the provisions of this act.
4. a. The following planning incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
Oakland Boro |
Bergen |
Boro of Oakland Open Space & Recreation Plan
|
$500,000
|
River Vale Twp |
Bergen |
Watershed Property Acquisition
|
500,000
|
Burlington County |
Burlington |
Planning Incentive
|
1,000,000 |
Bordentown Twp |
Burlington |
Bordentown Twp Open Space Acq
|
500,000 |
Eastampton Twp |
Burlington |
Planning Incentive |
111,500
|
Evesham Twp |
Burlington |
Planning Incentive
|
750,000
|
Medford Twp |
Burlington |
Open Space Incentive |
500,000
|
Moorestown Twp |
Burlington |
Open Space Preservation Plan |
500,000
|
Mount Laurel Twp |
Burlington |
Mt Laurel Acquisition Plan
|
750,000
|
Gibbsboro Boro |
Camden |
Greenway Acquisition |
400,000
|
Caldwell Boro |
Essex |
Caldwell OSRP Update |
250,000
|
Livingston Twp |
Essex |
Livingston Twp Open Space Acquisition
|
500,000
|
Verona Twp |
Essex |
Verona Open Space Acquisition
|
500,000
|
Gloucester County |
Gloucester |
Open Space Plan |
1,000,000
|
Bethlehem Twp |
Hunterdon |
Open Space Plan Implementation
|
500,000
|
Delaware Twp |
Hunterdon |
Open Space Acquisition |
500,000
|
Kingwood Twp |
Hunterdon |
Open Space Plan
|
500,000
|
Raritan Twp |
Hunterdon |
Land Acquisition Plan
|
500,000 |
Readington Twp |
Hunterdon |
Greenway Incentive Plan |
500,000
|
Union Twp |
Hunterdon |
Union Twp Open Space Plan
|
500,000
|
Mercer County |
Mercer |
Mercer County Planning Incentive
|
1,250,000
|
Hamilton Twp |
Mercer |
Hamilton Township Open Space Acquisition
|
750,000 |
Lawrence Twp
|
Mercer |
Open Space Plan Acquisition
|
500,000 |
Pennington Boro |
Mercer |
Pennington Greenbelt Planning Incentive
|
375,000 |
Princeton Boro |
Mercer |
Princeton Open Space Acquisition
|
500,000
|
Robbinsville Twp |
Mercer |
Green Links Program
|
500,000 |
West Windsor Twp |
Mercer |
West Windsor Planning Incentive
|
500,000
|
Middlesex County |
Middlesex |
Middlesex County Open Space Acquisition
|
1,250,000 |
North Brunswick Twp |
Middlesex
|
North Brunswick Plan
|
750,000
|
South Brunswick Twp |
Middlesex
|
Open Space Acquisition
|
750,000 |
Monmouth County |
Monmouth |
Planning Incentive Acquisition |
1,250,000
|
Holmdel Twp |
Monmouth |
Holmdel Planning Incentive Acquisition
|
500,000
|
Howell Twp |
Monmouth |
Planning Incentive 2 |
750,000
|
Millstone Twp |
Monmouth |
Millstone Planning Incentive-Project Evergreen
|
500,000 |
Madison Boro |
Morris |
Madison Boro Open Space Acquisition
|
500,000
|
Ocean County |
Ocean |
Planning Incentive Grant |
1,000,000
|
Manchester Twp
|
Ocean |
Planning Incentive
|
750,000
|
Point Pleasant Beach Boro
|
Ocean |
Open Space & Recreation Acquisition |
500,000 |
Passaic County |
Passaic |
Open Space Plan Acquisitions |
1,250,000
|
Somerset County |
Somerset |
County Open Space Acquisition
|
1,000,000 |
Bernardsville Boro |
Somerset |
Bernardsville Boro Open Space & Recreation Land Acquisition
|
500,000 |
Montgomery Twp
|
Somerset |
Open Space Acquisition 5
|
500,000
|
Peapack - Gladstone Boro
|
Somerset |
Open Space Acquisition |
500,000
|
Frankford Twp |
Sussex |
Frankford Twp Planning Incentive
|
462,500 |
Union County
|
Union |
Open Space & Recreation Plan
|
1,500,000
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$29,349,000
|
b. The following projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes located in municipalities eligible to receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.), either as of June 30, 2021 or the effective date of this act, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
Bloomfield Twp |
Essex |
Third River Park and Preserve
|
$1,000,000
|
Union City |
Hudson |
4100 Palisade Ave Acq
|
1,000,000
|
Rahway City |
Union |
East Cherry Street Park Acq
|
179,000 |
TOTAL |
|
|
$2,179,000
|
c. The following standard acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
East Rutherford Boro
|
Bergen |
Richard Outwater House Acq
|
$500,000
|
Wood-Ridge Boro |
Bergen |
Wood-Ridge Recreation Complex Acq
|
750,000 |
Edison Twp |
Middlesex |
Glendale Park Acq
|
750,000 |
Fair Haven Boro |
Monmouth |
Spagnuolo Acq |
500,000
|
Lincoln Park Boro |
Morris |
Lincoln Park Floodplain Acq |
213,518
|
Mountainside Boro
|
Union |
Our Lady of Lourdes Fields
|
478,000
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$3,191,518
|
d. The following site-specific
incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation
purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to
section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
Lambertville City |
Hunterdon |
Closson Property Acq |
$500,000
|
Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp |
Morris |
Kosut Tract Acq |
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
Hardwick Twp |
Warren |
White Lake Natural Resource Area Addition |
265,000 |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$1,165,000 |
|
|
|
|
GRAND TOTAL |
|
|
$35,884,518
|
5. a. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in municipalities eligible to receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) either as of June 30, 2021 or the effective date of this act, or sponsored by densely populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
Atlantic City |
Atlantic |
Gardner's Basin Improvements |
$596,450
|
Pleasantville City |
Atlantic |
Bayview Avenue Waterfront Park
|
633,333 |
Cliffside Park Boro
|
Bergen
|
Gorge Road Park Improvements
|
187,500 |
Garfield City |
Bergen |
Columbus Park Improvements
|
1,200,000 |
Hackensack City
|
Bergen |
Columbus & Carver Park Improvements
|
1,200,000 |
Burlington County
|
Burlington
|
Willingboro Lakes Improvements Ph II
|
1,000,000
|
Pemberton Twp
|
Burlington
|
Pemberton Sports Filed Lighting
|
1,200,000
|
Vineland City
|
Cumberland |
Romano Complex Improvements
|
1,200,000
|
Essex County |
Essex |
Multi-Park Improvements 2021
|
1,519,525
|
Belleville Twp
|
Essex |
Fairway Park Improvements
|
601,954 |
Bloomfield Twp |
Essex |
Clarks Pond South & Vassar Field Improvements
|
503,160 |
East Orange City |
Essex |
Oval Parks Improvements
|
1,200,000
|
Newark City
|
Essex |
Broadway Park
|
1,200,000
|
Orange City Twp |
Essex |
Military Park Improvements
|
1,200,000
|
Glassboro Boro |
Gloucester |
S. Delsea Dr. Sports Complex Turf Project
|
1,000,000 |
Bayonne City |
Hudson |
DiDomenico Park & Pool
|
1,200,000
|
Hoboken City
|
Hudson |
Cove Park Waterfront Improvements
|
576,300 |
Hoboken City |
Hudson |
Southwest Park Development |
1,200,000
|
Jersey City
|
Hudson |
Leonard Gordon Park
|
1,200,000
|
Kearny Town |
Hudson |
Harvey Field Improvement
|
1,200,000 |
Kearny Town |
Hudson |
Passaic River Shoreline & Dock
|
1,200,000 |
Weehawkin Twp |
Hudson |
Waterfront Multi-Use Pavilion II
|
1,200,000 |
West New York Town
|
Hudson |
Washington Park Improvement
|
537,964
|
Trenton City |
Mercer |
Amtico Square Skatepark Complex
|
1,200,000
|
Carteret Boro
|
Middlesex |
Arthur Kill River Walk North
|
1,200,000
|
Old Bridge Twp
|
Middlesex
|
Cottrell Farm Park Development
|
1,200,000
|
Perth Amboy City |
Middlesex |
Veteran Memorial Park Improvements
|
1,200,000
|
Brick Twp |
Ocean |
Mallard Point Park Redevelopment
|
712,500
|
Brick Twp |
Ocean |
Multi-Park Improvements 2
|
1,102,536
|
Passaic County |
Passaic |
Dundee Island Park Phase II |
1,800,000
|
Passaic City |
Passaic |
Multi-Park Improvements 2021
|
1,200,000
|
Paterson City
|
Passaic |
Vista Park Development Project
|
221,558
|
Hillside Twp
|
Union |
Athletic Courts Resurfacing Project
|
304,550
|
Plainfield City
|
Union |
Rushmore Ave. Rec. Complex - Phase II
|
1,200,000
|
Roselle Boro |
Union |
Home Terrace Park Improvement
|
1,200,000
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$35,297,330 |
b. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
Egg Harbor Twp
|
Atlantic
|
Tony Canale Park Expansion
|
$900,000
|
Bergen County
|
Bergen |
Riverside County Park South
|
1,500,000
|
Fairview Boro
|
Bergen |
Bergen Boulevard Park
|
90,000
|
North Arlington Boro
|
Bergen |
Fisher Field Improvements
|
117,683
|
Wallington Boro
|
Bergen |
Hathaway Park Improvements
|
219,384
|
Ewing Twp
|
Mercer
|
ESCC Pool Area Improvements
|
524,390
|
Freehold Boro
|
Monmouth
|
Liberty Park Improvements
|
127,243
|
Highlands Boro |
Monmouth
|
Snug Harbor Skate Park |
599,013 |
Middletown Twp |
Monmouth |
Multi-Park Improvements |
737,750
|
Seaside Heights Boro
|
Ocean
|
North Bayfront Boat Ramp
|
286,500
|
Bound Brook Boro
|
Somerset |
Billian Legion Park Development
|
70,325
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$5,172,288
|
c. The following standard park development projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
Hamilton Twp |
Atlantic |
Leipe Recreation Complex Expansion
|
$600,000 |
Hazlet Twp |
Monmouth |
North Hazlet Community Park
|
600,000 |
Carneys Point Twp
|
Salem
|
Recreation Complex Improvements
|
600,000
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$1,800,000 |
d. The following projects for stewardship activities are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
APPROVED AMOUNT |
Evesham Twp |
Burlington |
Black Run Preserve Stewardship
|
$50,000
|
Cumberland County
|
Cumberland
|
Trail Development on Mid-County Park
|
486,060
|
Belleville Twp
|
Essex
|
Fairway Park River Bank Walkway
|
267,012
|
Washington Twp
|
Gloucester |
Washington Lake Park - Phase II
|
315,000
|
Westville Boro
|
Gloucester
|
Thomas West Park Pond Improvements
|
65,540
|
Mercer County |
Mercer |
Watson's Creek Living Shoreline
|
150,000
|
Middletown Twp
|
Monmouth |
Poricy Park Watershed Improvements
|
143,500
|
Millstone Twp
|
Monmouth |
Barnegat Bay Preserve
|
108,330
|
Passaic County |
Passaic |
Lambert Castle Landscape Restoration
|
500,000
|
Bound Brook Boro
|
Somerset |
North Park Project
|
300,000
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$2,385,442
|
GRAND TOTAL |
|
|
$44,655,060 |
6. a. Any transfer of funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in section 4 or 5 of this act shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
b. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in section 4 or 5 of this act are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes, or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, shall be eligible to receive additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
7. a. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
b. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection such sums as may be, or may become, available on or before June 30, 2022, due to interest earnings or loan repayments in any "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act or in the "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," for the purpose of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
8. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill appropriates $80,539,578 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues and various Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide grants or low-interest loans, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Of the total amount appropriated, $76,802,956 is from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues, and $3,736,622 is made available due to loan repayments and interest earnings. The funds made available due to loan repayments and interest earnings are from the "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and various Green Acres funds established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act.
The CBT revenues appropriated in this bill are provided from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014.
The "Preserve New Jersey Act" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
This bill appropriates funds to be used for grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects. Further, of the funding allocated for local open space acquisition and development projects, a certain percentage may be used to fund stewardship activities undertaken by local governments. "Stewardship activity" is defined in the act as an activity, which is beyond routine operations and maintenance, undertaken to repair or restore lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes for the purpose of enhancing or protecting those lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
The total amount of funding allocated for local government projects listed in this bill is $80,539,578. Of this amount, $35,884,518 is for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $44,655,060 is for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Of the sum for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $29,349,000 is allocated for planning incentive open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities and counties that have an open space tax and an approved open space plan); $2,179,000 is allocated for projects in "urban aid" municipalities; $3,191,518 is allocated for standard open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not have an open space tax); and $1,165,000 is allocated for site-specific incentive acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that have an open space tax, but do not have an open space plan).
Of the sum for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $35,297,330 is allocated for local park development projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; $5,172,288 is allocated for local park development projects in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties; $1.8 million is allocated for standard local park development projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not meet the criteria of the prior two categories); and $2,385,442 is allocated for stewardship activity projects.
The projects listed have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT).
The projects approved by the bill include projects in "urban aid" and densely or highly populated municipalities and counties. The bill defines a "densely or highly populated municipality" as a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or a population of at least 35,000 persons; a "densely populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile; and a "highly populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile.
To the extent that there are funds remaining after the local government unit projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the DEP, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC), to use those funds to provide additional funding for local government unit projects listed in this bill as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws.