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Commissioner Campbell Visits Residential Redevelopment
Project at Former North Wildwood Landfill
Highlights Public
Question No. 2 that Provides Stable Brownfield Funding
(03/161) NORTH WILDWOOD
- Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley
M. Campbell today recognized The Tides at Seaboard Point
as the first brownfield redevelopment project in New Jersey
for residential housing on a former solid waste landfill.
Commissioner Campbell also highlighted Public Question No.
2, the hazardous waste cleanup and brownfield redevelopment
initiative, on the November 4 ballot and discussed its importance
in promoting smart growth in New Jersey.
"K. Hovnanian's brownfield redevelopment
project, reclaiming an old landfill for residential housing,
is a first for New Jersey's smart growth efforts,"
said Commissioner Campbell. "It protects our coastal
resources through proper landfill closure, provides residential
housing and preserves most of the site as open space, including
nesting habitat for two species of herons."
Commissioner Campbell toured the former
Anglesea Beach Landfill, a 20-acre site in North Wildwood,
with Mayor Aldo Palombo, representatives of K. Hovnanian
Companies of Edison, the developer of the housing project,
and Jim Sinclair, first vice president of the New Jersey
Business and Industry Association (BIA), who highlighted
an environmental award recently presented by BIA for this
unique project. They reminded voters that on November 4
they have an opportunity to support funding to investigate
and clean up contaminated sites and promote brownfield redevelopment.
Such projects stimulate the local economy and make communities
safer.
Without increasing taxes, the ballot proposal
would expand the use of an existing underground storage
tank funding program to create a reliable, long-term funding
source for brownfield redevelopment. Municipalities and
businesses would directly benefit from grants and loans
for hazardous discharge cleanups. These funds would be provided
through an expanded use of Corporate Business Tax (CBT)
revenues already dedicated to the state's underground storage
tank funding program. Brownfield redevelopment projects
could be eligible for up to $50 million in CBT funding the
first year alone, and about $10-15 million each year thereafter.
"This ballot initiative is about helping
towns across the state return contaminated and abandoned
brownfield sites to productive use," said Commissioner
Campbell. "It will support environmental cleanup, create
employment opportunities and meet a need for housing and
recreation. By dedicating existing funding to bring polluted
brownfield sites back to life, we encourage smart growth
and steer new development away from precious open space."
The McGreevey Administration has worked
aggressively to create innovative programs to promote brownfield
redevelopment. The Governor signed legislation expanding
tax reimbursements for projects that convert brownfield
sites into residential development. The Governor also provided
$40 million in funding for brownfield investigation and
cleanup projects through the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation
Fund. This same fund would be used in the future to distribute
the stable source of money for brownfield loans and grants
called for in the ballot initiative. DEP and the New Jersey
Economic Development Authority will partner to administer
the funding program. The two agencies provide environmental
and financial review of remediation projects.
Last month, the Administration also launched
a new Cleanup Star program to expand the role of environmental
consultants by allowing those pre-qualified by DEP to work
with developers and responsible parties to expedite site
cleanups and redevelopment. DEP also has been working on
brownfield to greenfield projects to meet the need for parks
and open space, especially in older suburban and urban areas.
If voters approve the ballot proposal,
municipalities will be able to apply for grants and loans
of up to $2 million per year for investigation and cleanup
activities. Private parties required to perform remedial
activities and individuals who want to conduct such actions
voluntarily may qualify for loans up to $1 million per year
if they are unable to obtain private funding. Towns and
businesses work under a "Memorandum of Agreement"
with DEP to perform remedial work ensuring proper oversight
of the activities.
The ballot proposal also earmarks up to
$2 million per year for an underground storage tank inspection
program. The inspection program will assist tank owners
to identify leaking tanks and correct small problems before
they become serious environmental concerns.
Since its creation in 1996, the Underground
Storage Tank funding program has received revenues of about
$20-30 million annually, but expends only about $10 million
per year. As a result, the Underground Storage Tank Fund
currently has a surplus of approximately $100 million that
cannot be used productively unless New Jersey residents
approve the constitutional changes proposed in Public Question
No. 2. About half of the funds will go to brownfield projects,
while the remaining will be used for underground storage
tank work.
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