OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF LICENSE AGREEMENT

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Hopatcong State Park
260 Lakeside Blvd.
Landing, New Jersey 07850
Block 10504, Lot 14; Block 10602, Lot 1; Block 10801, Lot 1; and Block 10802, Lot 1 – Roxbury Township, Morris County

NJDEP MANAGING PROGRAM:  State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites

NJDEP FACILITY: Hopatcong State Park

PROPOSED ACTION

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“Department”) is proposing to amend License Agreement #LE23-038 (“Agreement”) between the Department and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation (“Licensee”), which authorizes Licensee to conduct guided environmental education class trips (“Class Trips”) and public boat tours (“Public Tours”) at Hopatcong State Park (collectively the Class Trips and Public Tours are referred to as the “License Operation”). The proposed amendment would: 1) expand the period of the License Operation; 2) increase the frequency of the Class Trips during certain times of year; and 3) increase the Licensee’s compensation to the Department as a result of the expanded operations.

SITE HISTORY

Lake Hopatcong was created as part of the Morris Canal, a 90-mile waterway that ran from Newark to Phillipsburg and was the chief means of transporting coal, iron and zinc across New Jersey in the 1860s. The lake was the canal’s major source of water. In 1866, more than 880,000 tons of freight were transported on the canal. However, as the more efficient Morris and Essex Railroad was established, the canal was abandoned. Hopatcong State Park has remained a popular swimming and picnicking destination for families during the summer months. Many boaters and anglers access Lake Hopatcong from the Hopatcong State Park boat launch.

Hopatcong State Park is situated at the junction of Lake Hopatcong and the Musconetcong River; this provides easily accessible points to observe the contrast between lacustrine and riverine ecosystems. With both riparian and upland forest ecosystems also present within the park, the large amount of ecological diversity in a relatively compact space has made Hopatcong State Park a desirable outdoor classroom location for New Jersey school systems and the general public. The boat launch area of Hopatcong State Park provides the opportunity for further access onto the lake for recreational and educational purposes.

LICENSE AGREEMENT HISTORY

On April 3, 2023, the Department issued a request for proposals (“RFP”) to solicit proposals from interested parties to conduct the License Operation at Hopatcong State Park. The Department received one proposal, submitted by Lake Hopatcong Foundation. After finding the proposal to be materially responsive, the Department entered into the Agreement with the Licensee on May 5, 2023.

The Licensee has conducted the License Operation successfully under the Agreement and has complied with the terms and conditions of the Agreement. Demand for the Class Trips offered by the Licensee has grown, such that the Licensee is not able to accommodate all interested school groups within a schedule limited to three (3) days per week. The Licensee has requested authorization to operate the Class Trips up to four (4) days per week during the periods described in the License Agreement Amendment Terms/Objectives section, below.

LICENSE AGREEMENT AMENDMENT TERMS/OBJECTIVES

The Department’s primary objective in amending the Agreement is to expand the availability of high-quality educational programming at Hopatcong State Park to school groups. The Department is unable to offer such programming directly and instead relies on the Licensee to provide the programming. Specifically, the Department’s objective is to allow an expansion of Class Trips during the time periods described in the following paragraph. The Department does not propose to allow an expansion of Public Tours beyond the frequency already allowed under the Agreement.

The Department proposes amending the Agreement to allow the Licensee to conduct the License Operation on an expanded schedule from April 24th through November 15th. The Agreement currently authorizes the Licensee to conduct the License Operation from May 1st through November 1st. The Department is also proposing to allow the Licensee to conduct the Class Trips up to four (4) days per week, Monday through Thursday, from April 24th through June 15th and from the Monday after Labor Day through November 15th to accommodate additional school groups that wish to participate in Class Trips. The Agreement currently authorizes the Licensee to conduct the License Operation three (3) days per week, Monday through Thursday, from May 1st through June 15th and from the Monday after Labor Day through November 1st. The Agreement also authorizes the Licensee to operate on one (1) designated day per week, Monday through Thursday, from June 16th through the Sunday after Labor Day. This latter requirement would remain unchanged under an amended Agreement.

The Licensee will be required to pay the Department additional annual compensation proportional to the proposed expansion of the operating schedule. Said compensation shall be calculated by the Department on a monthly basis or prorated by day in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement. With the exception of the proposed amendment to the operating schedule and required additional compensation, the terms and conditions of the Agreement will remain unchanged.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

License Agreement LE23-038

PUBLIC COMMENT

The Department will not be conducting a formal public hearing on this proposal but is instead offering the opportunity to submit written comment on the proposed amendment to the Agreement.

Written comments on (or questions about) the proposed amendment may be directed to:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration
Public Land Administration Section
401 E State Street
P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 401-07
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
PublicLandAdministration@deptest.nj.gov

Written public comments on this proposed lease will be accepted until April 16, 2026. Please note that to ensure the Department’s timely receipt of any public comments, submission via email (rather than regular mail) is strongly recommended.

The Department will take all comments into account when making its final decision on this matter. The comment period will remain open until April 16, 2026, after which the Department will post a general Q&A in response to any frequently asked questions. However, the Department will not be responding directly to individual comments received on this matter.

Last modified on March 4th, 2026 at 6:49 pm

OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED SALE OF HISTORIC PROPERTY

UPDATE–MARCH 4, 2026

A document summarizing, and providing answers to, the public comments received by the Department
through March 4, 2026 has been posted below under “Additional Information”.

The Q and A document will be updated to respond to any additional comments received through the close of the public comment period
on March 6, 2026, but is being posted now to provide additional information to the public about the proposed sale.

Two additional documents related to the comments have also been posted below.

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House
County Route 615 (377 Pittstown Road)
Franklin Township, Hunterdon County
Block 26, Lot 8 (part of), Block 27 lot 7.02 (part of)

NJDEP MANAGING PROGRAM:  Fish and Wildlife

NJDEP FACILITY: Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area

PROPOSED ACTION

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) is proposing to sell the historic Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County at public auction, subject to a historic preservation easement to be held by the New Jersey Historic Trust.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on the proposed sale prior to approval of the sale by the NJDEP Commissioner and the State House Commission.

SITE HISTORY

Block 26, Lot 8 is located in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County (“the Property”).  The Property has frontage on County Route 615 (Pittstown Road) and the Capoolong Creek.  It is currently administered by the NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife program as part of the Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area (“WMA”).

The Property is located in the Pittstown Historic District (“District”).  The District is listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places (collectively, “the Registers”).  The Property  contains a residential structure that is classified as a contributing building in the District.  The residential structure was constructed in the 1850’s and is listed on the Registers as the Deats, Case and Co. Tenant House (hereafter, the “House”).  Additional information on the District and the House (Structure #46) may be found in the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form linked below.

The Property was acquired by the NJDEP in 2003.  The NJDEP acquired the Property to resolve the encroachment of the Property’s septic system onto the WMA and to extend the WMA to and across the Capoolong Creek.   For several years after the acquisition, the House was used as employee housing by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.  However, it is no longer needed for that purpose and the NJDEP does not have the financial resources to maintain it to appropriate historical standards for public use.

Therefore, as it has done for other historic buildings on its lands, the NJDEP is considering selling the House, subject to a historic preservation easement, for private use.  The House will be sold “as is”, and the NJDEP will not assume any responsibility for repairs to the House or any remediation on the Property.  The proceeds of the sale will be returned to the Green Acres fund for use in a future State open space acquisition project.  The historic preservation easement will be held, monitored and enforced by the New Jersey Historic Trust.

The map linked below depicts the portion of the Property the NJDEP is considering selling (outlined in red).  The proposed sale would also include a small portion of Block 26, Lot 7.02 (outlined in green).

The proposed lot lines are subject to adjustment.  However, the NJDEP does not intend to enlarge the area proposed for sale.  The area to be retained by the NJDEP includes a dilapidated garage that will be removed from the Property.  This area will be used for public parking to provide fishing access to the Capoolong Creek.  As noted on the map, the Capoolong Creek frontage will continue to be owned by the NJDEP.

In addition to maintaining the structure to historic standards, as a condition of the sale the purchaser will be required to install, at its expense, a new septic system, including a retaining wall, and a new well on the Property.  A septic system design for the House was commissioned by the NJDEP and received approval from Hunterdon County in 2019.  A copy of this approval is linked below for informational purposes only.  Potential purchasers should not assume this approval is still valid or that the plan upon which it was based meets current County code requirements and/or NJDEP environmental permitting requirements.  The purchaser will be responsible for obtaining all current permits and approvals that are needed for the required improvements.

If the NJDEP proceeds with the sale, the purchaser would be allowed to use the property for any use consistent with its current NB (Neighborhood Business) zoning (or any future zoning requirements imposed on the Property by Franklin Township) and the historic preservation easement.  The Franklin Township zoning code may be found at Township of Franklin, NJ Zoning Code.

The selected purchaser will be responsible for all technical costs associated with the sale, including preparation of a survey to the NJDEP’s specifications, any title and hazard reviews the purchaser wishes to undertake, and recording fees.

SALE PROCESS

The NJDEP will not be conducting a formal public hearing on the proposed sale but is instead offering the public the opportunity to submit written comment on this matter in advance of seeking the necessary approvals for the sale.  If the NJDEP decides to proceed with the proposed sale, it is subject to approval by the NJDEP Commissioner and the State House Commission.  If approved, the proposed sale will then be subject to additional public notice as part of the public auction process.

The opening bid for the proposed sale is not known as this time but will be determined based on an appraisal before the NJDEP seeks approval for the sale from the State House Commission.  Due to the lead time involved with commissioning and reviewing the appraisal, the NJDEP anticipates that the earliest State House Commission approval could be obtained is in September 2026.

If the sale is approved by the State House Commission, the NJDEP will sell the Property through an online auction with the assistance of the NJ Department of Treasury.  Potential purchasers will be offered the opportunity to tour the House as part of the auction process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the Pittstown Historic District

Aerial Map of the Property

Photos of the House (2025)

Deed for the NJDEP’s Purchase of the Property

Survey for the NJDEP’s Purchase of the Property

Map Showing Area Proposed to be Sold and Potential Locations for a New Well and Septic System

2019 Hunterdon County Board of Health Approval for Septic System Design and Well

UPDATE–MARCH 4, 2026:

Q and A on Proposed Sale of Deats Case Tenant House

Minutes of the June 16, 2016 Historic Sites Council Meeting

September 1, 2016 Letter Conditionally Approving Demolition of Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House

PUBLIC COMMENT

Written comments on (or questions about) the proposed sale may be directed to:

Jocelyn Gulla, Esq., Regulatory Officer
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration
401 E State Street
P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 401-07
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

Jocelyn.Gulla@deptest.nj.gov

Please send a copy of any comments submitted on this proposal to:

Mary Monteschio, Esq., Regulatory Officer
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey Fish and Wildlife
Mail Code 501-03
P.O. Box 420
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420

Mary.Monteschio@deptest.nj.gov

Written public comments on the proposed sale will be accepted until March 6, 2026.

Please note that electronic submission of comments is preferred.

For emailed comments, please include “Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House” in the subject line of the message.

Last modified on January 29th, 2026 at 4:47 pm

OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED SALE OF HISTORIC PROPERTY

UPDATE–NOVEMBER 5, 2025

The formal public comment period for the proposed sale closed on October 3, 2025. 

The Department is still reviewing the comments received during the public comment period.  The Department will not be responding to individual comments, but will be posting answers to several frequently asked questions prior to taking any formal action to sell this property.  

As noted below, the sale of this property requires the approval of the State House Commission, and it is necessary for the Department to determine the appraised value of the property, which will serve as the opening bid at a public auction, in order to obtain this approval.  The Department is currently in the process of obtaining an appraisal of the property before making a final decision about whether to proceed with the proposed sale.  The process of obtaining the appraisal is expected to take several months.

PROPERTY INFORMATION:

Saxtonville Tavern
2226 Daniel Bray Highway (Route 29)
Delaware Township, Hunterdon County
Block 46, Lot 14

NJDEP MANAGING PROGRAM:  Parks, Forests and Historic Sites

NJDEP FACILITY: Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park

PROPOSED ACTION:

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is proposing to sell the historic Saxtonville Tavern (Tavern) in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County at public auction, subject to a historic preservation easement to be held by the New Jersey Historic Trust.  Prior to initiating the sale process, the NJDEP is offering the opportunity for public comment on the proposed sale.

SITE HISTORY:

The Tavern is located at 2226 Daniel Bray Highway (Route 29) (Block 46, Lot 14).  It was constructed in 1782 as an inn and is a contributing resource to the Delaware & Raritan Canal Historic District (a historic district listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places).  The Tavern, along with eight acres of surrounding land, was acquired by the NJDEP in 2007 from the McAloan family (which had owned the property since 1874.)

The two-story stone Tavern structure was most recently used as a single-family residential dwelling.  The structure currently contains a total of 2856 square feet of living space.  It has seven rooms, including four bedrooms and one bathroom.

At the time of acquisition, the NJDEP intended to use the Tavern structure for its park management operations.  However, the NJDEP has now determined that it does not need this structure for its operations and does not have the financial resources to maintain it to appropriate historical standards.  Therefore, as it has done for other historic buildings on its lands, the NJDEP is considering selling this structure, subject to a historic preservation easement, for private use.  The proceeds of the sale will be returned to the Green Acres bond fund for use in a future State open space acquisition project.  The historic preservation easement will be held, monitored and enforced by the New Jersey Historic Trust.

The exact lot size for the proposed sale has not yet been determined.  However, as depicted on the aerial map linked below, the area to be sold will consist of a level lot at the base of the Delaware River Bluffs, and consists of approximately 0.20 acre of land.  While the NJDEP wishes to convey as large a lot as it can to facilitate future productive use of the new lot, it does not wish to divest itself of the entire Route 29 frontage of current Block 46, Lot 14 and wants to retain ownership of the existing wooded frontage to the north and/or south of the Tavern structure.  The NJDEP will also retain ownership of the remaining acreage acquired from the McAloan family, which contains part of the Delaware River Bluffs.

As depicted on the map linked below, the right of way for Route 29, which is held by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, runs along the front edge of the Tavern structure.  Therefore, the future purchaser of the Tavern will need to obtain an access agreement from the NJDOT for the use of the driveway and lawn areas located within the right of way.

If the NJDEP proceeds with the sale, the purchaser of the property would be allowed to use the property for any use consistent with its current A-1 zoning (or any future zoning requirements imposed on the property by Delaware Township) and the historic preservation easement.  A copy of the current A-1 zoning specifications for Delaware Township is linked below.  A full copy of the Delaware Township zoning code may be found at Township of Delaware, NJ Zoning Code.

The selected purchaser will be responsible for all technical costs associated with the sale, including preparation of a survey to the NJDEP’s specifications, any title and hazard reviews, and deed recording fees.

SALE PROCESS:

The NJDEP will not be conducting a formal public hearing on the proposed sale but is instead offering the opportunity to submit written comment on this matter in advance of seeking the necessary approvals for the sale.  If the NJDEP decides to proceed with the proposed sale, it is subject to approval by the NJDEP Commissioner and the State House Commission.  The NJDEP anticipates that the earliest the approval could be obtained is in March 2026.  If approved, the proposed sale will then be subject to additional public notice as part of the public auction process.

The opening bid for the proposed sale is not known as this time but will be determined on the basis of an appraisal before the NJDEP seeks approval for the sale from the State House Commission.

If the sale is approved by the State House Commission, the NJDEP will sell the Tavern property through an online auction with the assistance of the NJ Department of Treasury.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Aerial map of the area proposed to be sold
• Photos of the Tavern (2020)
• Saxtonville Tavern historical information
• Deed for the NJDEP’s purchase of the Tavern
• Survey for the NJDEP’s purchase of the Tavern
• Maps depicting Route 29 Right of Way line
• Delaware Township Zoning Code excerpts

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Written comments on (or questions about) the proposed sale may be directed to:

Jocelyn Gulla, Esq., Regulatory Officer
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration
401 E State Street
P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 401-07
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
jocelyn.gulla@deptest.nj.gov

Please send a copy of any comments submitted on this proposal to:

Mark Texel, Administrator
New Jersey State Historic Sites and Parks
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites
501 East State Street
P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 501-04
Trenton, NJ  08625
historic.sites@deptest.nj.gov

Written public comments on the proposed sale will be accepted until October 3, 2025.  Please note that electronic submission of comments is preferred.   For emailed comments, please include “Saxtonville Tavern” in the subject line of the message.