Governor Christie Signs Bill to Establish Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority
By Henry T. Chou, Esq.
Governor Christie has signed a law (S917) that creates a 13-member Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, which replaces 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, which was passed by both the Senate and Assembly in late June, creates a 13-member Authority comprised of nine voting members and four non-voting members. The four non-voting members will be the State Commissioners of the Departments of Labor, Community Affairs, Transportation and Environmental Protection. Three of the voting members will be appointed by the Governor and the remaining members will be comprised of the mayors of the towns in which the base is located and a member of the county freeholders.
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.