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Applicant:  City of Margate, Atlantic County

Park Name:   City of Margate Waterfront Park

Park Location:

9215 Amherst Avenue
Block 526, Lots 4.01 and 4.02

Proposed Action:

The City of Margate has filed a request with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) proposing to divert 0.04 acre of the City of Margate Waterfront Park (Block 526 Lots 4.01 & 4.02) in connection with the construction of a new stormwater pump station under the parking lot on Amherst Avenue to alleviate flooding in the surrounding area.

As compensation for the proposed diversion, the City proposes to construct various park improvements that are valued at $19,177.01.

The proposed diversion area and details about the proposed pump station are here:  SHC0116002 Margate Stormwater Pump Station Maps

Hearing Date/Time:  October 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Hearing Location:

Margate Historic City Hall
1 South Washington Avenue
Margate, New Jersey 08402

Public Comments Accepted Through:  October 17, 2025

Please click the link above for the full public hearing notice, including addresses where written comments should be sent.  Emailed comments are preferred.  Please include “SHC0116002 Margate Stormwater Pump Station” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

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Applicant:  Borough of Bernardsville, Somerset County

Park Name:   Claremont Field

Park Location:

79 Claremont Road
Block 69, Lot 8

Proposed Action:

The Borough of Bernardsville, in the County of Somerset, New Jersey has filed a request with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration, proposing to dispose of a total of 0.2635 acre of Claremont Field (Block 69, Lot 8) in order to resolve two private encroachments at the park.

As compensation for this disposal of parkland, the Borough will dedicate approximately 5.505 acres of land located at 271 Mine Brook Road (Block 81, Lot 6.03 and a portion of Block 61, Lot 6.02) for recreation and conservation purposes.  

The proposed diversion areas and replacement parcels are depicted on the map here: SHC1803003 Reference Map

Hearing Date/Time:  September 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Hearing Location:

Bernardsville Borough Hall
166 Mine Brook Road
Bernardsville, New Jersey 07924

Public Comments Accepted Through:  October 13, 2025

Please click the link above for the full public hearing notice, including addresses where written comments should be sent.  Emailed comments are preferred.  Please include “SHC1803003 Claremont Field Encroachments” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

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Applicant:  Township of Franklin, Somerset County

Park Name:   Castleton Park

Park Location:

816 Easton Avenue
Block 383, Lot 43.01

Proposed Action:

The Township of Franklin, Somerset County, has filed a request with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration, proposing to divert a 0.14-acre portion of Castleton Park (Block 383, Lot 43.01) for the purpose of allowing Sunoco Pipeline, LP to install a valve and associated equipment on the existing Sunoco pipeline which traverses the property. To construct the valve and associated equipment, a 0.07-acre temporary surface easement will also be needed.

As compensation for the proposed diversion, the Sunoco Pipeline, LP will provide monetary compensation to the Township, corresponding to ten times the market value of the diverted land (which will be determined by an appraisal). The Township will use these funds for the acquisition of at least 0.56 acre of replacement land within two years of any Department/State House Commission approval.

The proposed diversion area is depicted on these maps.  A survey of the proposed diversion area is here.

Hearing Date/Time:  September 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:

Franklin Township Municipal Building
475 DeMott Lane
Somerset, New Jersey 08873

Public Comments Accepted Through:  October 9, 2025

Please click the link above for the full public hearing notice, including addresses where written comments should be sent.  Emailed comments are preferred.  Please include “SHC1808005 Castleton Park Sunoco” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

Last modified on August 22nd, 2025 at 5:33 pm

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Applicant:  Village of Ridgewood, Bergen County

Park Name/Location:

Former South Broad Street Playground
308-316 South Broad Street
Block 3905, Lot 19

Proposed Action:

The Village of Ridgewood has filed an application to legalize an “after-the-fact” major disposal of 0.378 acre of parkland listed on its Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) and amend its ROSI accordingly. The subject of the disposal is the property identified as Block 3905, Lot 19 on the official tax map of the Village of Ridgewood and located at 308-316 South Broad Street. The property, formerly a playground, was sold by the Village to the Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County in 1983 and subsequently developed as condominiums for four affordable housing units, which did not receive approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The violation was discovered in 2011.

To rectify the situation, the Village proposes to provide replacement land in the Village. The proposed replacement parcels are identified as Block 5005, Lot 5 and a portion of Block 2605, Lots 2 and 3 on the official tax map of the Village of Ridgewood. The former is a vacant property on Hammond Road, and the latter is a portion of a “paper street” right-of-way known as Marlborough Road. The Village will also be installing recreational amenities at Kings Pond Park including installation of a new playground, benches, and a new pavilion which will be a space to host outdoor recreational programs, social gatherings, and picnics, as well as a shelter from extreme weather conditions. Additionally, the Village proposes to make a payment to the Garden State Preservation Trust.

Maps of the proposed diversion area and proposed replacement land are here:

General Location Map
Map of Proposed Hammond Road Replacement Parcel
Map of Proposed Marlborough Road Replacement Parcel

Hearing Date/Time:  Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Hearing Location: 

This hearing will be held in a hybrid format.

The in-person location for the hearing is:

Patrick A. Mancuso Senior Center
Ridgewood Village Hall, 1st floor
131 North Maple Avenue
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450

Information about how to join the hearing by telephone or Zoom is set forth in the attached public hearing notice.

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.

Last modified on August 22nd, 2025 at 5:34 pm

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Applicant:  City of Newark, Essex County

Park Name/Location:

Newark Riverfront Park

938-948 McCarter Highway
Block 1, Lot 60

950-964 McCarter Highway
Block 2, Lot 29

Proposed Action:

The City of Newark has applied for approval to grant a permanent access easement and a temporary construction easement through a portion of Green Acres encumbered parkland along McCarter Highway, designated on the tax maps of the City of Newark, Essex County, as Block 1, Lot 60 (938-948 McCarter Highway) and Block 2, Lot 29 (950-964 McCarter Highway), to allow vehicular and pedestrian access in connection with the redevelopment of the adjacent property, designated as Block 1, Lot 46.02 (formerly Block 1, Lots 30 and 46).

The proposed grantee of the easements is 930 McCarter Urban Renewal LLC, the City’s designated redeveloper under its River Public Access and Redevelopment Plan.  Consistent with the redevelopment plan, Block 1, Lot 46.02 will be developed with a mixed-use project that includes a 20% affordable housing component.  A copy of the redevelopment plan may be found here:  Newark Riverfront Redevelopment Plan

The proposed permanent access easement will affect an approximately 0.075-acre (3,260 square foot (“sf”)) portion of Block 1, Lot 60 and an approximately 0.080-acre (3,498 sf) portion of Block 2, Lot 29. The temporary construction easement will affect an approximately 0.114-acre (4,947 sf) portion of Block 1, Lot 60 and an approximately 0.011-acre (482 sf) portion of Block 2, Lot 29.

As compensation for the proposed diversion and temporary use, the City proposes to dedicate as parkland an approximately 0.621-acre (27,032 sf) portion of Mulberry Commons, designated as Block 167, Lot 10.02 (8-12 Columbia Street) and Block 166, Lot 1.03 (160-172 Mulberry Street), which the City previously designated for that purpose.

Maps of the proposed diversion area and proposed replacement land are here:

General Location Map
Map of Proposed Disposal Area
Map of Proposed Replacement Parcels

Hearing Date/Time:  Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 6 PM

Hearing Location: 

This hearing will be held virtually on the Zoom platform using the following link:

https://NewarkNJ.zoom.us/j/86245437553?pwd=o2Vm2oeRJh3hyjEQGxIKvlSgLOfBFk.1

Meeting ID: 862 4543 7553

Passcode: 001789

Information about how to join the hearing by telephone is set forth in the attached public hearing notice.

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Thursday, February 27, 2025

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.  Please include “SHC 0714013 Newark Waterfront Park Diversion” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

Last modified on August 22nd, 2025 at 5:36 pm

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Applicant:  City of Cape May, Cape May County

Park Name:  Lafayette Street Recreation Area

Proposed Action:

The City of Cape May has applied for approval to dispose of 0.14 +/- acre of parkland, which is located along St. John Street near the intersection of St. John Street and Lafayette Street and identified as Block 1061, Lots 44 and 47 of the Official Tax Maps of the City of Cape May, in connection with the proposed relocation of the City’s police station and development of a new police station facility on this site and adjacent non-parkland lots. The existing parkland is located within a designated Overburdened Community and in accordance with Executive Order 23, the Department will be taking Environmental Justice issues into consideration when evaluating the proposed disposal application to the extent not inconsistent with law.

As compensation for the proposed disposal, the City proposes to dedicate as parkland approximately 6.607 +/- acres of City-owned land, commonly known as the Sewell Tract, and identified as Block 1163, Lot 7; Block 1164, Lot 6; Block 1165, Lots 1 and 6; and, Block 1167, Lot 2; and Block 1168, Lot 2 on the Official Tax Maps of the City of Cape May, along with road rights of way to be vacated between these lots.

Maps of the proposed disposal area and proposed replacement parcels, and a rendering of the proposed police station building, are here:

Aerial Map of Proposed Disposal Area
Aerial Map of Proposed Replacement Parcels
Survey of Proposed Replacement Parcels
Police Building Elevation

Hearing Date/Time:  Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 6 PM

Hearing Location: 

City of Cape May City Hall Auditorium
643 Washington Street
Cape May, New Jersey 08204

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.  Please include “SHC 0502001 Cape May Police Station” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

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Applicant:  Borough of Bellmawr, Camden County

Park Name:   Big Timber Creek

Park Location:

Creek Road
Block 78, Lot 2

Proposed Action:

The Borough of Bellmawr seeks approval to divert Block 78, Lot 2 (17.86 acres) in Bellmawr in connection with the Bellmawr Waterfront Redevelopment Project.  Information about the redevelopment project may be found here:  Big Timber Creek Waterfront Redevelopmen | Redev (bellmawrredevagency.org)

As compensation for the proposed diversion, the Borough proposes to dedicate the following properties as parkland:

• • • 22.67 waterfront acres of new parkland along the Big Timber Creek (including Block 79.01, Lot
      9.02 in Bellmawr Borough and Block 1.02, Lot 1.02 in Deptford Township), to be known as the Big Timber Creek Waterfront Park
    • 104 acres of land within Block 328, Lot 5 in West Deptford Township

Both the proposed diversion area and the proposed replacement parcel are depicted on this map.

Hearing Date/Time:  July 23, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Hearing Location:

Bellmawr Borough Hall
21 East Browning Road
Bellmawr, New Jersey 08031

Public Comments Accepted Through:  August 7, 2024

Please click the link above for the full public hearing notice, including addresses where written comments should be sent.  Emailed comments are preferred.  If you send comments by email, please include “Bellmawr Diversion” in the subject line of your email.

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Applicant:  Township of Woodbridge, Middlesex County

Park Name:   Bowtie Pool Property

Park Location:

141 B Street, Port Reading (Woodbridge)
Block 649.01, Lot 1

Proposed Action:

The Township of Woodbridge is seeking approval to convey a 1.001-acre portion of the 6-acre Green Acres encumbered Bowtie Pool Property to the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) for the construction of a track and two new switches.  The construction project will provide direct access between the Port Reading Secondary Line and the Garden State Secondary Line, eliminating the need for extended train idle times in residential areas.

As compensation for the proposed disposal, the Township has acquired three replacement parcels totaling 4.862 acres which will be added to the Township’s Recreation and Open Space Inventory. The parcels are:

• • • Spruce Street Park (Block 1079.08, Lot 2 (0.891 ac.), to be added to Spruce Street Park
    • Block 664.03, Lot 1.01 ( 2.712 ac.), to be added to the Cyprus Park
    • Part of Block 664.03, Lot 8 (future lot 8.02) (1.259 ac.), to serve as a connecting parcel between the Bowtie Pool Property and Cypress Park

Additionally, to offset the loss of recreational amenities at the Bowtie Pool property, the Township has undertaken significant recreational improvements at Cypress Park, including upgraded soccer fields, two new roller hockey rinks, new playground equipment/unitary playmat, walking path, pickleball courts and restrooms.

Additional information about the proposed partial disposal may be found in the full public hearing notice linked above and the following maps:

Aerial Map
County Road Map
Tax Map

Hearing Date/Time:  July 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:

Woodbridge Township Administration Building
1 Main Street
Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095

Public Comments Accepted Through:  August 12, 2024

Please click the link above for the full public hearing notice, including addresses where written comments should be sent.  Emailed comments are preferred.  If you send comments by email, please include “SHC1225013” in the subject line of your email.

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Applicant:  City of Atlantic City, Atlantic County

Park Names:   Bader Field, Pete Pallitto Field and Public Beach/Boardwalk

Park Locations:

Bader Field:  545 Albany Avenue, Atlantic City (Block 794, Lot 1)

Pete Pallitto Field and Boat House Parcel:  Intersection of Fairmont Avenue and Sovereign Avenue, Atlantic City (Block 370, Lots 1.01, 2 and 2.01)

Public Beach:  Public beach/Boardwalk parcels between South Texas and Iowa Avenues (Block 1, Lots 58 and 59)

Proposed Action:

The City of Atlantic City is seeking approval to convey underground utility easements on a total of 1.8 acres +/- of Green Acres encumbered parkland to Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, LLC for the installation of underground utility facilities associated with the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1.  The proposed diversion area includes 1.35 +/- acres of the Public Beach/Boardwalk, 0.26 +/- acre of Pete Pallitto Field and 0.19 +/- acre of Bader Field.  The project also includes a total of 1.99 acres +/-of temporary workspace on the three parks.  Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, LLC is in the process of acquiring various properties, permanent rights of way and easements needed to install underground cables and related infrastructure, in connection with the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, which will be necessary for the transmission of offshore wind generated energy to the electric distribution network.

The lands in question are encumbered by State of New Jersey Green Acres restrictions, and a final application for the major diversion of said lands has been submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for  approval by the Department’s Commissioner and by the State House Commission. As compensation for the diversion of the City-owned lands described above, the City proposes to place Green Acres restrictions on other City-owned lands north of West End Avenue (identified as Block 757 Lot 1; Block 756 Lot 1; Block 755, Lot 1; Block 754, Lot 1; Block 753 Lots 1,2,3,4; Block 752, Lot 1; Block 751, Lot 1; Block 750, Lot 1; Block 749, Lot 1; Block 748, Lot 1; Block 747, Lot 1; Block 746, Lot 1; Block 745, Lots 1 and 3; and paper streets to be vacated). Atlantic Shores has proposed a public access enhancement project on the compensation parcels, as well as compensation for tree removal. Atlantic Shores has also agreed to compensate the City for its use of the temporary workspace.

Additional information about the proposed diversions may be found in the full public hearing notice linked above and at https://atlanticshoreswind.com/project-1-njdep-green-acres-diversion-application-2024/

Hearing Date/Time:  June 25, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:

This hearing will be held virtually.

Members of the public may participate in the hearing via video conference or by telephone.

Those who wish to participate via video conference may access the hearing at https://bit.ly/green-acres-offshore

(Note: if manually typing the address into a web browser, please use all lowercase text).

A toll-free dial-in option is available as well, via calling (877) 853-5247, and
entering 823 4121 1062 as the webinar ID, and 469898 as the passcode.

If using one-tap mobile, please use +13017158592,,82341211062#.

Those planning to offer comments at the hearing may sign up to do so during the hearing.

The public hearing will also be televised at the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 1301 Bacharach Blvd., Atlantic City, New Jersey. Members of the public may view the public hearing and submit comments during the broadcast of the hearing.

Public Comments Accepted Through:  July 9, 2024

Please click the link above for the full public hearing notice, including addresses where written comments should be sent.