January 1, 1900

by Henry T. Chou

In anticipation of the closing of Fort Monmouth in 2011, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority (FMERPA) moved promptly to adopt its “Fort Monmouth Revitalization Plan” on September 3, 2008. The Revitalization Plan provides proposals for the reuse of the base and calls for various types of development, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, educational and residential uses. In December 2008, FMERPA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, through which the two agencies pledged to cooperate to ensure that adequate affordable housing will be part of the redevelopment efforts.

The Revitalization Plan also describes the supporting infrastructure, phasing schedule, and capital improvement programs needed to implement the land use proposals. While representatives of the local community assisted in formulating the proposals contained in the Revitalization Plan, the Department of Defense is responsible for identifying the final property disposal mechanisms. It is expected that the Department of Defense will turn over control of the base property to State and local authorities promptly after the closing of the base in 2011. Numerous redevelopment opportunities should become available.

If you are interested in following the latest developments of the Fort Monmouth redevelopment process, visit Hill Wallack LLP’s Fort Monmouth Redevelopment blog at www.landuselaw.com.

Henry T. Chou is a partner of Hill Wallack LLP and a member of the firm’s Land Use Division. His practice is concentrated in the land development application and permitting process and the litigation of land use matters. He has significant experience in Mount Laurel affordable housing litigation and administrative matters before the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing. He is also a Member of the Board of Directors of the Land Use Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association