Yesterday, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee advanced a committee substitute for S-3688, legislation that would require a regional economic impact report and allow review by adjacent municipalities for certain proposed retail warehouse developments.
Under the bill, a municipality would be required to notify adjoining towns with a “notice of regional impact” when an application is filled to build a retail warehouse, allowing the neighboring communities to adopt a resolution of “regional concerns,” which would entitle them to have their objections addressed by the host community and proposed developer, at a hearing to be held by either the county planning board or the State Planning Commission.
The League provided the Committee with a letter outlining several concerns and issues with the proposal. The committee amendments make significant changes to the legislation, which appear to add some additional concerns. The League is reviewing the new language and will provide additional information and analysis regarding the bill and the committee amendments early next week.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.