Menu
Resources

Resources

  • April 15, 2010

    Legislation Introduced to Establish Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority

    By Henry T. Chou, Esq.

    Senators Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) and Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) have introduced a bill that proposes to create a 13-member Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, which would replace the outgoing Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority as the agency responsible for overseeing the redevelopment of the Army base that was ordered closed by a federal panel in 2005.

    The outgoing Authority, comprised of local, state and Army officials, is winding up operations after issuing a planning report that envisions a $1 billion redevelopment of 1,129-acres property comprising the Army base. The task of the new Authority will be to implement many of the planning goals envisioned in the report and regulate the redevelopment of the property.

    The bill, S917, co-sponsored by Senators Beck and Lesniak, calls for a 13-member Authority comprised of nine voting members and four non-voting members. The four non-voting members would be the State Commissioners of the Departments of Labor, Community Affairs, Transportation and Environmental Protection. Three of the voting members would be appointed by the Governor and the remaining members would be comprised of the mayors of the towns in which the base is located and a member of the county freeholders.

    While the proposed bill has wide consensus amongst local officials, Senator Beck anticipates opposition to the bill as it moves through the Legislature.

    Editor's note: Hill Wallack LLP serves as counsel to clients in a number of redevelopment matters. Our clients have including the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, New Jersey Transit, New Jersey Schools Development Authority and others.

    Click here to go to this article on our Land Use Blog