Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman BETTYLOU DECROCE

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

Directs State acquisition of Troy Meadows Natural Area, Morris County, for recreation and conservation purposes and designates it as natural area and wildlife sanctuary.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

An Act concerning the acquisition by the State of Troy Meadows Natural Area in Morris County for recreation and conservation purposes, and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Legislature finds and declares that Troy Meadows in Morris County is an approximately 2,000-acre natural area of supreme beauty and significance; that it is composed of wetlands and other habitat that support an abundant variety of wildlife and vegetation; that it is located in the northern area of the State where large intact parcels of open space are becoming increasingly rare; and that the area around Troy Meadows Natural Area is currently experiencing strong development pressure.

The Legislature therefore determines that it is appropriate and in the public interest for the State to acquire as soon as practicable, and to preserve and maintain, Troy Meadows Natural Area, for recreation and conservation purposes.

2. a. The Department of Environmental Protection may, pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-1 et seq.), acquire in fee simple or by conservation easement, at the department's discretion, and preserve and maintain in the name of the State, for recreation and conservation purposes, the real property located in Parsippany-Troy Hills and East Hanover Townships, Morris County, that is known as Troy Meadows Natural Area, and any real property contiguous or adjacent thereto, the acquisition of which is necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

The department shall coordinate its acquisition plan pursuant to this section with any similar acquisition plan for any portion of Troy Meadows Natural Area proposed by the governing bodies of Morris County, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, or East Hanover Township, or proposed by a nonprofit organization, provided that any such local or nonprofit acquisition plan comports with the purposes of this act to permanently preserve and maintain Troy Meadows as a natural area and wildlife sanctuary for recreation and conservation purposes.

b. The department shall utilize funds appropriated or made available to it from the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act," P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.), or any other funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it from other sources for acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, to effectuate the purposes of this act.

c. Upon acquisition, the department shall designate the property as the "Troy Meadows Natural Area and Wildlife Sanctuary," and shall preserve, protect, manage, and maintain it accordingly.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to acquire in fee simple or by conservation easement, at its discretion, and preserve, protect and maintain in the name of the State, for recreation and conservation purposes, real property located in Parsippany-Troy Hills and East Hanover Townships, Morris County, known as Troy Meadows Natural Area, and any real property contiguous or adjacent to it if necessary to acquire for the purposes of the bill.

The Department of Environmental Protection would be required to coordinate its acquisition plan with any similar acquisition plan for any portion of Troy Meadows Natural Area proposed by the governing bodies of Morris County, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, or East Hanover Township, or proposed by a nonprofit organization, if any such local acquisition plan comports with the purposes of the bill to permanently preserve, protect and maintain Troy Meadows as a natural area and wildlife sanctuary for recreation and conservation purposes.