By Ellen Radow Sadat, Esq.

If you own real property in New Jersey that is not fully developed, Wastewater Management Plans (WMPs) currently being prepared this Fall by county governments (or NJDEP in the case of plans for Bergen, Burlington, Passaic, Union and Warren counties) may adversely impact the value of your property and its development potential.  WMPs establish Sewer Service Areas which identify the properties that will be served by wastewater treatment systems.  Properties such as corporate campuses, educational campuses, industrial parks, golf courses, residential developments, or vacant land that are currently within a Sewer Service Area could be re-designated to a non-Sewer Service Area, drastically devaluing the property, potentially impacting financing, and effectively eliminating future development options. » Read the rest of this entry «

One of the most significant obstacles to economic growth and development in New Jersey has gone largely unnoticed and if not properly addressed, could jeopardize commercial, residential and industrial growth, and undermine New Jersey’s hope for future economic stability and vitality.  Amendments to the Water Quality Management Planning Rules in 2008 have resulted in an overall shift in how water resource planning is implemented throughout the state.  The new rules are designed to shape development patterns in New Jersey through the designation of sewer and nonsewer waste water disposal areas.  The serious impact of the rules is only now coming to light with the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) introduction of a proposed, dramatically revised Sewer Service Area Maps.  The new maps, currently in draft form, are substantially different than the current maps, removing many undeveloped or partially developed properties from current designations as Sewer Service Areas.   The bottom line is that many properties that are not fully developed, such as golf courses, educational campuses, industrial parks and corporate campuses that are currently within a Sewer Service Area would be redesignated to a non-Sewer Service Area, drastically devaluing the property, potentially impacting financing and effectively eliminating future development options.  Many of the map changes directly conflict with municipal zoning ordinances, master plans and even approved General Development Plans, removing key components that will have a critical impact on a municipality’s fiscal health and in some cases drive N.J. corporations that have purchased sufficient land for future growth around existing facilities to look to relocate outside of the State. 

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