By Joseph J. Whitney, Esq.

On January 16, 2010, the New Jersey legislature adopted a bundle of laws to promote renewable energy development in New Jersey.  Among the laws adopted was an amendment to the Agricultural Retention and Development Act (the “Act”) to permit the installation and operation of biomass, solar or wind energy generation facilities on preserved farmland.  A preserved farmland is a farm in which the landowner has conveyed a development easement to the State Agricultural Development Committee (“SADC”) or other governmental instrumentality, such as a county, or to a private not-for-profit entity, such as a land trust.  By conveying a development easement to the SADC or such other entity, the landowner covenants that the preserved farm will only be used for agricultural purposes.  This restriction runs with the land and is binding on all future owners of the property. » Read the rest of this entry «

If adopted, a bill before the New Jersey Senate (S-1) will abolish COAH and reform the Fair Housing Act.  The bill stands at second reading and can be voted upon at the next voting session in May 2010.  If it is not amended, the bill will change the entire landscape of how affordable housing requirements are calculated and applied.  With regard to nonresidential development, it will essentially eliminate affordable housing requirements.  Here is the story:      » Read the rest of this entry «

By Michael A. Smith, Esq. LEED AP

On April 22, 2010, Governor Christie signed into law S-921 – new legislation designed to facilitate solar panel development and, more broadly, to fortify New Jersey’s position as a green energy leader.

S-921

Under this new legislation, S-921, solar panels are now exempt from zoning limitations on impervious cover – a planning term for hard surfaces such as buildings and driveways, that prevent water from absorbing into the ground. On solar panels, municipalities have been contradictory in their impervious cover requirements, with some treating solar panels as impervious. S-921 addresses this inconsistency – solar panels cannot be restricted through impervious coverage limitations. Note that the base or foundation of a solar panel may still be regulated as impervious cover. » Read the rest of this entry «

By Glenn S. Pantel and Michael A. Smith

On March 24, 2010, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued Administrative Order No. 2010-03 – a measure that extends the deadline for wastewater management planning entities to submit revised wastewater management plans (WMPs), until April 7, 2011.  This administrative order also provides property owners with new rights in connection with NJDEP’s wastewater management planning process.

Background

WMPs are legally binding documents that govern where new sanitary sewer lines can be built. For a sewer line to be extended into a property, it must be included within the sewer service area (SSA) in the area wide WMP. Properties that fall outside the SSA are generally required to be served by septic systems. » Read the rest of this entry «

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly recently passed a bill (S-58: A-437) that overrides the “time of decision rule,” which has governed decision making under the Municipal Land Use Law for decades. 

Under current law, a planning board or zoning board of adjustment applies the law in effect at the time it renders its decision, rather than the law in effect when the issues were initially presented.  A municipal governing body can amend its zoning ordinance after an application for development has been filed with a land use board, even in direct response to the application, and the land use board decides the matter based upon the amended ordinance. 

Under the new bill, a land use board would be required to make its decision on an application for development in accordance with the development regulations (zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, site plan ordinance, official map ordinance or other municipal regulation of the use and development of land) that are in effect on the date the application for development is submitted.  The bill also exempts an application for development from changes made to ordinances other than development regulations, except for those relating to health and public safety, that are adopted after the application for development is submitted. » Read the rest of this entry «

In June, I reported that the New Jersey Legislature proposed a bill (S1202/A3062) that would add the definition of an “inherently beneficial use” to the Municipal Land Use Law and expand the inherently beneficial use status to include wind, solar and photovoltaic facilities.   The legislation has been adopted and the following definitions now apply:

“Inherently beneficial use” means a use which is universally considered of value to the community because it fundamentally serves the public good and promotes the general welfare. Such a use includes, but is not limited to, a hospital, school, child care center, group home, or a wind, solar or photovoltaic energy facility or structure.

“Wind, solar or photovoltaic energy facility or structure” means a facility or structure for the purpose of supplying electrical energy produced from wind, solar, or photovoltaic technologies, whether such facility or structure is a principal use, a part of the principal use, or an accessory use or structure.

For a copy of the Pamphlet Law click here.

For a discussion of the inherently beneficial use variance standard click here.

By Michael Smith, Esq., LEED AP.

On January 18, 2010, now former Governor Jon Corzine signed A-4347 – legislation that lengthens the protection of the Permit Extension Act of 2008, for an additional 2.5 years. 
 By way of background, the Permit Extension Act automatically suspended the expiration of many, but not all, state, county and local permits and approvals, for an “extension period” intially lasting from January 1, 2007 through July 1, 2010. 

With A-4347 signed into law, that “extension period” will now last until December 31, 2012, after which the running of the approval periods will resume for up to 6 months – that is, until June 30, 2013.  Furthermore, bear in mind that approvals covered by the Permit Extension Act remain eligible for additional extensions under other authorities (for example, the Municipal Land Use Law)

For a copy of A-4347 please click here.

By Michael Smith, Esq., LEED AP.

The New Jersey Legislature recently introduced identical companion bills S-3137 and A-4347 – proposed legislation standing to lengthen the protection of the Permit Extension Act of 2008 (the “PEA”), until at least December 31, 2012.  By way of background, the PEA automatically suspended the expiration of many state, county and local approvals and permits, for an “extension period” lasting from January 1, 2007 through July 1, 2010, after which the running of the approval periods will resume for up to six months – that is, until December 31, 2010. » Read the rest of this entry «

Although the Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA) gives Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRPs) substantial authority once the exclusive purview of NJDEP, not all of the functions held by NJDEP case managers under the pre-SRRA process for remediation will be transferred to the LSRP.  Such is the case with Alternate Remediation Standards (ARS).  An ARS is a remediation standard developed for use at a given site based on site-specific conditions and risks that is often less restrictive than adopted standards.  One of the laws modified by SRRA continues to allow the use of ARS in lieu of the established minimum soil remediation standards for residential or non-residential use.  » Read the rest of this entry «

Currently, NJDEP requires a biennial certification for engineering and institutional controls.  Every two years, a certification must be prepared, signed and submitted to NJDEP reporting on the monitoring, inspection and maintenance for caps, covers, fences, signs, Classification Exception Areas (CEAs), deed notices and other engineering and institutional controls implemented as part of the remediation of a contaminated site.  Under the Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA), NJDEP will now be implementing a new permit program for this purpose.  NJDEP is wrestling with the best way to move forward with the transition of these requirements into a permit program. » Read the rest of this entry «

There are two significant provisions in the Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA) that will impact how NJDEP pursues its claims for Natural Resource Damages (NRD). The first is a fairly obvious change to existing law (the Statute of Limitations) setting deadlines for the state to bring a claim for NRD.  The second, and more significant provision, stems from a subtle reference nestled amid NJDEP’s newly defined powers of direct remedial oversight.  » Read the rest of this entry «

The Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA) will affect the choice and pace of remedies. SRRA provides that, for any site that is to be used for residential purposes, a licensed day care center, a public or private school, or a charter school, the Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) must ensure that the person responsible for conducting the remediation completes the remediation in a manner that complies with either unrestricted use standards, a soon to be established “Presumptive Remedy,” or an alternative remedy approved by the NJDEP. » Read the rest of this entry «