New Jersey Senate Bill S1834

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Allows for exclusion of certain properties from Highlands preservation area.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would significantly alter processes concerning property located in the Highlands preservation area, offering owners a potential pathway to manage their land without the strict limitations of being in a preservation zone. By excluding properties from the preservation area, the bill aims to modify regulatory frameworks so that these properties would be treated similarly to those outside the Highlands, potentially increasing their market value and facilitating development projects.

Summary

Senate Bill S1834 proposes an amendment to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, allowing property owners within the Highlands preservation area to request exclusion from this area under specific circumstances. This new bill will permit landowners to submit a request to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Chair of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council if their property is rejected by the State for purchase due to the lack of funding. This rejection must relate to the property’s appraised value set as of August 9, 2004, and the bill is designed to address situations where the State is unable to buy land at fair market value due to financial constraints.

Contention

Concerns may arise regarding the implications of such exclusions on environmental protections associated with the Highlands region. Advocates for the preservation of this area may view the bill as a threat to ecological safeguards designed to maintain the integrity of the Highlands ecosystem. Critics argue that allowing property exclusion might encourage fragmentation of preserved lands, undermining conservation efforts and leading to negative environmental impacts.