New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 36 - GREEN ACRES PROGRAM
Subchapter 18 - NONPROFIT ACQUISITION PROJECTS: AWARD CRITERIA, RANKING AND EVALUATION
Section 7:36-18.1 - Project award criteria

i. The extent to which there is a deficit in open space for recreation or conservation purposes within the jurisdiction of the local government unit, under the balanced land use guidelines for municipalities and counties, one to five points. For purposes of this section, the balanced land use guidelines recognize competing uses for developable land (for example, housing versus ballfields) and are expressed as goals. For a municipality, the balanced land use goal is that a minimum of three percent of the developed and developable area of the municipality should be held as open space for recreation. For a county, the balanced land use goal is that a minimum of seven percent of the developed and developable area of the county should be held as open space for recreation. The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (available from Green Acres) contains a complete discussion of the balanced land use guidelines; and

ii. The population density and the extent to which there is a shortage of availability of other open space which satisfies similar recreational needs within the area from which the majority of users of the proposed project are expected to come, one to 25 points.

i. The extent to which the project contains open space and/or conservation areas of sufficient size and located so as to:

ii. The extent to which a project creates or extends a greenway or protects a water resource area, including forests, shorelines, and stream corridors of sufficient size and located so as to:

i. If the project is on, contained within, or adjacent to a site included on or eligible for inclusion on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places under P.L. 1970, c.268 (N.J.S.A. 13:1B-15.128 et seq.) and/or the National Register of Historic Places under 16 U.S.C. §§ 470 et seq., or is a critical historic site identified in the State Plan, New Jersey Meadowlands Master Plan, Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, or Highlands Regional Master Plan, as applicable, zero to three points;

ii. If the project is an historic project that provides extension to or linkage between existing public recreation and/or open space areas, zero to three points;

iii. The degree to which the project is a significant and/or contributing component of an historic district designated as such under N.J.S.A. 13:1B-15.128 et seq., zero to three points;

iv. If the project is part of an ongoing historic preservation or restoration project or historic study or investigation, zero to three points; and

v. The extent to which the project is one with historic integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, zero to three points.

i. There is public support, as demonstrated through letters from the municipal and county planning boards, park agencies, recreation departments, environmental commissions, user groups, and the general public, zero to five points; and

ii. The project is consistent with the State Plan, New Jersey Meadowlands Master Plan, Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, or Highlands Regional Master Plan, as applicable; the New Jersey Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan; and local and county land use plans, especially open space and recreation elements thereof, as demonstrated in excerpts from or specific references to such plans in the project application, zero to 10 points.

i. The project is accessible to population centers; is accessible by public transportation, walking or bicycling; and will create public access where none exists or where existing access is undeveloped or restricted, zero to four points;

ii. The project has recreation development potential, because it is suitable for major outdoor recreation facility development, is suitable for the use and/or development of appropriate water dependent recreation activities or facilities, represents part of a planned or existing waterfront development plan, provides environmental and/or historic interpretive opportunities, or improves management or expansion of recreation facilities or services, zero to 10 points;

iii. The project improves needed public access (visual and/or physical) to water, zero to six points; and

iv. The project is cost-effective as determined by weighing the quality of conservation or recreation opportunities provided by the project against the anticipated cost. Considerations include: the cost of alternative locations and facilities; whether the land is available at lower cost due to bargain sale, donation, easement, or partnerships; the cost of future operation and maintenance; and whether the project has development approvals from the local planning board; negative eight to eight points.

i. Private investment and/or ecotourism potential, public/private sector venture, and/or supports municipal and county (urban complex) strategic revitalization plans and programs consistent with the State Plan, New Jersey Meadowlands Master Plan, Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, or Highlands Regional Master Plan, as applicable, one point;

ii. Waterfront development or redevelopment, one point;

iii. Trails, bike paths, or greenways, one point;

iv. Historic or archaeologic resource enhancement or preservation, one point;

v. Wildlife habitat protection, one point;

vi. Protection of any waterbodies classified as "Category One Waters," pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9B, and associated special water resource protection areas established pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:8; or protection of other water resources, one point;

vii. A multiple use project (active and passive recreation opportunities), one point;

viii. Addition to a prior Green Acres-funded acquisition or development, one point;

ix. Private donation of land, labor, or cash, one point;

x. Likelihood or threat of private development for other than recreation and conservation purposes, one point. Examples of actions that may indicate a possible impending development may include whether the property is on the market or is the subject of local planning board action, or if any of the permits or approvals listed at N.J.A.C. 7:36-17.4 (f), or other development permits or approvals, have been sought for the property;

xi. Supports a school construction initiative in an Abbott District established pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:10A, one point; and

xii. Reclamation of a former brownfields site, one point.