File #: 23-1310    Version: 1 Name: Green Acres Application Support (Founders Park)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
File created: 8/9/2023 In control: Economic and Housing Development
On agenda: 9/20/2023 Final action: 9/20/2023
Title: Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending Type of Service: Filing of Final Green Acres Application by the Department of Economic and Housing Development. Purpose: Resolution supporting State House Commission Final Application to NJDEP Green Acres Program to amend the compensatory replacement land previously approved for the disposal of Founder's Park. List of Property: (Address/Block/Lot/Ward) 8-12 Columbia Street/Block 167/Lot 10.02/East Ward Additional Information:
Sponsors: Council of the Whole
Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Filing of Final Green Acres Application by the Department of Economic and Housing Development.
Purpose: Resolution supporting State House Commission Final Application to NJDEP Green Acres Program to amend the compensatory replacement land previously approved for the disposal of Founder's Park.
List of Property:
(Address/Block/Lot/Ward)
8-12 Columbia Street/Block 167/Lot 10.02/East Ward
Additional Information:
body

WHEREAS, Founder's Park was previously situated at the intersection of Saybrook Place and McCarter Highway, on a portion of the present-day New Jersey Performing Arts Center ("NJPAC") site, on property that was formerly designated as Block 17, Lots 5, 6 & 7 and is currently designated as a portion of Block 17, Lot 1.02 on the tax maps of the City of Newark; and
WHEREAS, Founder's Park was encumbered with restrictions against disposal or diversion from recreation and conservation uses by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's ("NJDEP") Green Acres Program; and
WHEREAS, to enable NJPAC to construct a world-class cultural center in the heart of the City and to allow the New Jersey Department of Transportation ("NJDOT") to improve McCarter Highway's vertical and horizontal geometry, realign intersections, and upgrade the lighting and landscaping through the City's central business district, it was necessary to remove the Green Acres restrictions from the entire approximately 7,666 square foot (0.176 acre) Founder's Park; and
WHEREAS, the removal of Green Acres restrictions from parkland requires the approval of the Commissioner of NJDEP and the State House Commission pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-26; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 7RBE, duly adopted on April 5, 1995, the Municipal Council of the City of Newark authorized submission of an application to the Commissioner of NJDEP and...

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