Category: Green Acres Diversion/Disposal Applications

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Scoping Hearing–Township of Brick, Ocean County–“After the Fact” Diversion due to Emergency Sewer Line Repair

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Applicant:  County of Ocean

Park Name:   Unnamed Parkland

Park Location:  

River Bluff Road Terminus
Block 755, Lot 35.01 (p/o)
Township of Brick

Proposed Action:

The County of Ocean and the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) will be conducting a scoping hearing to discuss resolution of an “after the fact” diversion of Green Acres encumbered parkland in connection with the Laurelbrook Wastewater Pump Station Sewer Force Main Emergency Replacement Under the Metedeconk River project (Project).  The Project involved the construction of an underground sanitary sewer force main pipe in an alignment parallel to an existing failed line.  The County now seeks approval to convey to the MUA a permanent easement over a 0.02-acre portion (875 square foot) of Block 755, Lot 35.01 now occupied by the new sewer line.

As compensation for the proposed diversion, the County proposes to accept an equivalent area of replacement land, as an easement, from the MUA within Block 755, Lot 37.02.  Both the proposed diversion area and the proposed replacement land are shown on the map attached to the public hearing notice linked above.

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-26.8, this scoping hearing is being held to solicit public comment on the proposed diversion prior to the County’s formal filing of a diversion application with the Department of Environmental Protection.

Hearing Date/Time:  Monday, September 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:

Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority Office
Main Conference Room
1551 Highway 99 W
Brick, New Jersey 08724

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Monday, September 29, 2025 [see linked public notice for submission details]

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Final Hearing–Village of Ridgewood, Bergen County–“After the Fact” Approval for Affordable Housing Site

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.

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Scoping Hearing–Township of Jackson, Ocean County–Camp Joy and Jackson Mills Soccer Complex

Last modified on August 12th, 2025 at 12:50 pm

Click here for full public hearing notice

Applicant:  Township of Jackson, Ocean County

Park Name:   Camp Joy and Jackson Mills Soccer Complex

Park Location:

Camp Joy

Corner of New Prospect Road and Larsen Road

Block 5806, Lot 4

Jackson Mills Soccer Complex

334 Jackson Mills Road

Block 2201, Lot 2 (p/o)

Proposed Action:

The Township of Jackson will be conducting a scoping hearing to discuss resolution of two “after the fact” diversions of Green Acres encumbered parkland to legalize:  (1) the continued operation of the Jackson Township leaf composting faciity on 8.091 acres of the Jackson Mills Soccer Complex property, and (2) an unauthorized diversion of 0.510-acre of parkland from the former Camp Joy property as part of the construction of the Crawford-Rodriquez Elementary School.   

As compensation for both diversions, the Township proposes to dedicate a total of 43.01 acres of replacement as parkland.  Under N.J.A.C. 7:36-26.10(e), the Township may also choose to provide monetary compensation at a minimum 10:1 ratio relative to the market value of the diverted land. All compensation is subject to adjustment based on land valuation requirements.

Hearing Date/Time:  Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Hearing Location:

Jackson Township Municipal Building
95 W. Veterans Highway
Jackson, New Jersey 08527

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Tuesday, August 26, 2025 [see linked public notice for submission details]

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Public Hearing–Minor Diversion/Disposal Application–County of Union–Construction of Indoor Ice Rink in Warinanco Park

 

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Applicant:  Union County

Parkland Name/Location: 

Warinanco Park
Borough of Roselle
Block 7601, Lot 1

Description of Proposed Diversion/Disposal:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received an application from Union County requesting approval to divert 1.14 acres of land in Warinanco Park, in Roselle New Jersey, in connection with the construction of an indoor ice-skating rink.   As compensation for the proposed diversion the County proposes to identify, acquire and dedicate as parkland wooded replacement land and, possibly, provide additional monetary compensation, within two years of application approval.

Although the proposed ice rink will be a public recreational amenity, construction of the building requires approval as a diversion of parkland because indoor recreation is not allowed on parkland acquired or developed with Green Acres funds (known as funded parkland under N.J.A.C. 7:36).  If this application is approved, the diversion area will remain as parkland, but will be classified as unfunded parkland under N.J.A.C. 7:36 instead of funded parkland.

A map of the proposed diversion area may be found here:  Map of Proposed Diversion Area

Construction plans for the proposed ice rink may be found here:  Ice Rink Construction Plans

This application has been classified as a minor diversion/disposal of parkland.  Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26.6(c), a public hearing on the proposed diversion/disposal application will be conducted as set forth below.

Hearing Date/Time:  Monday, July 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:  

Warinanco Park
Outdoor Ice Rink Facility
1 Park Drive
Roselle, New Jersey 07203

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Monday, August 11, 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 2000046 Warinanco Park Ice Rink” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

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Final Hearing–City of Newark, Essex County–Newark Riverfront Park–Diversion of Access Easement

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

 

Click Here for Full Public Hearing Notice

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.

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Public Hearing–Minor Diversion/Disposal Application–Township of Woodbridge, Middlesex County–Merrill Park–Sewer Line Upgrade

 

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Applicant:  Middlesex County

Parkland Name/Location: 

Merrill Park
Township of Woodbridge
Block 426, Lot 1.01

Description of Proposed Diversion/Disposal:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received an application from Middlesex County requesting approval to divert 0.088 acre of Merrill Park in connection with a project to upgrade an existing sanitary sewer that passes through the park to prevent sanitary sewer backups. The project will reroute the sewer away from a tributary of the South Branch of the Rahway River and away from a footbridge and the Fairview Avenue Bridge over this tributary to minimize impacts on the park’s natural resources and infrastructure. As compensation for the proposed diversion, the County of Middlesex proposes to remit $25,000 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for deposit into the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund as compensation for the area to be occupied by the new subsurface easement.

A map of the proposed diversion area may be found here:  Map of Proposed Diversion Area

This application has been classified as a minor diversion/disposal of parkland.  Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26.6(c), a public hearing on the proposed diversion/disposal application will be conducted as set forth below.

Hearing Date/Time:  Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:  

Woodbridge Town Hall
1 Main Street
Woodbridge, New Jersey

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Thursday, January 30, 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 1200052 Merrill Park Sewer Line” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

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Final Hearing–City of Cape May, Cape May County–Lafayette Street Recreation Area–Disposal for Police Station

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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Public Hearing–Minor Diversion/Disposal Application–Township of Hamilton, Mercer County–Relocation of Access Easement

 

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Applicant:  Mercer County

Parkland Name/Location: 

Nami Tract
Township of Hamilton
Block 2732, Lot 3.01

Description of Proposed Diversion/Disposal:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received an application from Mercer County requesting approval to divert 0.106 acre of parkland, through the conveyance of an access easement to a neighboring property owner, to accommodate the relocation of part of an existing access easement and driveway from property owned by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority onto County-owned Green Acres encumbered property.  The relocation is needed to preserve legal access to properties owned by the County and the neighboring private landowner (Block 2732, Lot 6) to Crosswicks-Hamilton Square Road because of right of way acquisitions by the Authority as part of the Interchange 6 to 9 Widening Project.

As part of the Widening Project, the Authority needed to acquire certain parklands from Mercer County, including interests in Block 2732, Lot 3.01 in Hamilton Township. These interests were acquired pursuant to a prior diversion application which received State House Commission approval on October 27, 2010. At that time, the County and the Authority informed the NJDEP and the Commission that they were still in the process of resolving access issues involving the Nami Tract and the adjacent farm (Lot 6) and that additional approvals might be needed from the NJDEP and the Commission in the future.   The County and the Authority now seek to address the outstanding access issue through the diversion of a 0.106 acre easement in order to relocate the prior access easement, for the benefit of the County, the Authority and the owner of Lot 6, partly onto Authority-owned land and partly onto County-owned land.

As compensation for the proposed diversion, the County will acquire from the Authority and dedicate as Green Acres encumbered open space more than double the land proposed for the diversion. The proposed replacement lands consist of 0.45 acre: (i) a 0.274 acre parcel adjacent to Block 2732, Lot 3.01 and Crosswicks-Hamilton Square Road, and (ii) a 0.176 acre parcel adjacent to Block 2732, Lot 3.01 and Block 2732, Lot 6, both in the Township of Hamilton.

A map and a survey depicting the proposed diversion area and proposed replacement parcels are here:

Nami Tract Minor Diversion Map

Access Road Survey

This application has been classified as a minor diversion/disposal of parkland.  Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26.6(c), a public hearing on the proposed diversion/disposal application will be conducted as set forth below.

Hearing Date/Time:  Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:  

Hamilton Township Public Library
1 Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Way
Hamilton, New Jersey 08619

Public Comments Accepted Through:  Thursday, January 23, 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 1100016 Nami Tract Minor Diversion” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

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Public Hearing–Minor Diversion/Disposal Application–Townships of Bridgewater and Hillsborough, Somerset County–Relocation of Sewer Line

 

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Applicant:  Somerset County

Parkland Name/Location: 

Duke Island Park

Block 102, Lots 10 and 39, Township of Bridgewater
Block 48, Lot 10, Township of Hillsborough

Description of Proposed Diversion/Disposal:  

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has received an application from Somerset County requesting approval to divert 0.42 acre of parkland, through the conveyance of a subsurface easement, to accommodate the relocation of a 54-inch diameter sanitary sewer line as part of the Headgates Dam Removal Project at Raritan River Mile 29.9.  The easement holder in this location is Bridgewater Township.  The sanitary sewer line is part of the wastewater treatment system operated by the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority (SRVSA).

A map depicting the proposed diversion area is here:  Headgates Dam Proposed Easements

As compensation for the proposed minor disposal of parkland, the County proposes to accept monetary compensation for the value of the new easement area.  The compensation will be deposited into Somerset County’s Open Space Preservation Trust Fund to be utilized for future acquisition of land for recreation or conservation purposes.

This application has been classified as a minor diversion/disposal of parkland.  Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26.6(c), a public hearing on the proposed diversion/disposal application will be conducted as set forth below.

Hearing Date/Time:  December 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Hearing Location:  

North Branch Park
355 Milltown Road
Bridgewater, New Jersey

Public Comments Accepted Through:  December 17, 2024

Please see public notice linked above for information about how to submit written comments.  Emailed comments to the Department are preferred.  Please include “SHC 1800027 Headgates Dam Sewer Line Relocation” in the subject line of any comments emailed to the Department.

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Application Update–Seaside Heights Public Beach

On June 30, 2016, the State House Commission approved the Department of Environmental Protection’s request to allow the Borough of Seaside Heights to transfer (dispose of) approximately 1.37 +/- acres of Borough-owned parkland, located on the Borough’s public beach, to the adjacent private owner of the Casino Pier amusement pier.   To compensate for the proposed disposal, the Borough proposed three forms of compensation:  (1) acceptance of ownership of the historic Carousel (then owned by the Casino Pier owners) for eventual public use; (2) acceptance of ownership and dedication as parkland of a vacant boardwalk parcel (Block 56, Lots 1, 3, 7 and 9, totaling 0.75 +/- acre) and (3) the dedication as parkland of 67.171 +/- acres of additional replacement land owned by Ocean County and located in Toms River Township (Block 409, Lot 20.02.)    In addition, as part of its approval, the Commission required the Borough to house the Carousel in a sheltered location in which it could be made available as a public recreational amenity, either by constructing a new building on the boardwalk replacement parcel or, if that was not feasible, then locating the Carousel somewhere else on or adjacent to the public boardwalk.   

On July 3, 2024, after a five-year $2.5 million restoration project, the carousel opened in an ADA-accessible building constructed by the Borough on the Boardwalk replacement parcel.  The building also contains public restrooms and historical displays showcasing both Seaside Heights and Ocean County history.

An informative article about the restoration of the carousel may be found here:  https://lavallette-seaside.shorebeat.com/2024/06/seaside-heights-historic-carousel-to-open-to-the-public-july-3-heres-a-preview/

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