N.J. Admin. Code § 7:36-7.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:36-7.2 - Ranking and evaluation

(a) Upon receipt of an application containing all the information required under N.J.A.C. 7:36-6.4, Green Acres shall determine if the project is eligible for funding in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:36-4.2.

(b) For an eligible project in the Standard Acquisition, Site Specific Incentive Acquisition, or Urban Aid Acquisition funding award category, the Department shall:

1. Determine the total number of priority points assigned to the project under N.J.A.C. 7:36-7.1(b); and

2. Rank the projects, within the same funding award category, on a priority list according to the total number of priority points assigned each project, with the project assigned the greatest total number of priority points ranking first.

(c) For an eligible project in the Planning Incentive acquisition funding award category, Green Acres shall evaluate the project, as follows:

1. For a local government unit that is requesting funding for a Planning Incentive project for the first time, Green Acres shall evaluate the adequacy of the local government unit's Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) to ensure that the provisions of the OSRP are included in or conform with the required elements of the municipal or county master plan, that is, for conservation, recreation, and land use. Green Acres shall also evaluate the extent to which the OSRP contains the elements required by the Department under this chapter; and the local government unit's overall commitment to environmental protection as evidenced by the extent to which its Open Space and Recreation Plan relates to the State's open space and recreation goals established in the State Plan, the New Jersey Meadowlands Master Plan, Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, or Highlands Regional Master Plan, as applicable; and the New Jersey Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (available from Green Acres).

2. For a local government unit that is requesting additional funding for a previously approved Planning Incentive acquisition project, and that remains eligible as a Qualifying Open Space Referendum County or Qualifying Open Space Referendum Municipality, Green Acres shall evaluate the need for additional funding based on a review of such considerations as the local government unit's progress in acquiring land using previously approved funding and the timing and status of future land acquisitions; and the local government unit's overall commitment to environmental protection as evidenced by the extent to which its Open Space and Recreation Plan relates to the State's open space and recreation goals established in the State Plan, the New Jersey Meadowlands Master Plan, Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, or Highlands Regional Master Plan, as applicable; and the New Jersey Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:36-7.2