New Jersey § 40a:12a-6

§ 40a:12a-6.

a. No area of a municipality shall be determined a redevelopment area unless the governing

body of the municipality shall, by resolution, authorize the planning board to undertake

a preliminary investigation to determine whether the proposed area is a redevelopment

area according to the criteria set forth in section 5 of P.L.1992, c. 79 ( C.40A:12A-5 ). Such determination shall be made after public notice and public hearing as provided

in subsection b. of this section. The governing body of a municipality shall assign the conduct of the investigation

and hearing to the planning board of the municipality. The resolution authorizing the planning board to undertake a preliminary investigation

shall state whether the redevelopment area determination shall authorize the municipality

to use all those powers provided by the Legislature for use in a redevelopment area

other than the use of eminent domain (hereinafter referred to as a “Non-Condemnation

Redevelopment Area”) or whether the redevelopment area determination shall authorize

the municipality to use all those powers provided by the Legislature for use in a

redevelopment area, including the power of eminent domain (hereinafter referred to

as a “Condemnation Redevelopment Area”). b. (1) Before proceeding to a public hearing on the matter, the planning board shall

prepare a map showing the boundaries of the proposed redevelopment area and the location

of the various parcels of property included therein. There shall be appended to the map a statement setting forth the basis for the investigation. (2) The planning board shall specify a date for and give notice of a hearing for the

purpose of hearing persons who are interested in or would be affected by a determination

that the delineated area is a redevelopment area. (3) (a) The hearing notice shall set forth the general boundaries of the area to be investigated

and state that a map has been prepared and can be inspected at the office of the municipal

clerk. (b) If the governing body resolution assigning the investigation to the planning board,

pursuant to subsection a. of this section, stated that the redevelopment determination

shall establish a Non-Condemnation Redevelopment Area, the notice of the hearing shall

specifically state that a redevelopment area determination shall not authorize the

municipality to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire any property in the

delineated area. (c) If the resolution assigning the investigation to the planning board, pursuant

to subsection a. of this section, stated that the redevelopment determination shall

establish a Condemnation Redevelopment Area, the notice of the hearing shall specifically

state that a redevelopment area determination shall authorize the municipality to

exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property in the delineated area. (d) A copy of the notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in

the municipality once each week for two consecutive weeks, and the last publication

shall be not less than ten days prior to the date set for the hearing. A copy of the notice shall be mailed at least ten days prior to the date set for

the hearing to the last owner, if any, of each parcel of property within the area

according to the assessment records of the municipality. A notice shall also be sent to all persons at their last known address, if any,

whose names are noted on the assessment records as claimants of an interest in any

such parcel. The assessor of the municipality shall make a notation upon the records when requested

to do so by any person claiming to have an interest in any parcel of property in the

municipality. The notice shall be published and mailed by the municipal clerk, or by such clerk

or official as the planning board shall otherwise designate. Failure to mail any such notice shall not invalidate the investigation or determination

thereon. (4) At the hearing, which may be adjourned from time to time, the planning board shall

hear all persons who are interested in or would be affected by a determination that

the delineated area is a redevelopment area. All objections to such a determination and evidence in support of those objections,

given orally or in writing, shall be received and considered and made part of the

public record. (5) (a) After completing its hearing on this matter, the planning board shall recommend that

the delineated area, or any part thereof, be determined, or not be determined, by

the municipal governing body to be a redevelopment area. (b) After receiving the recommendation of the planning board, the municipal governing

body may adopt a resolution determining that the delineated area, or any part thereof,

is a redevelopment area. (c) Upon the adoption of a resolution, the clerk of the municipality shall, forthwith,

transmit a copy of the resolution to the Commissioner of Community Affairs for review. If the area in need of redevelopment is not situated in an area in which development

or redevelopment is to be encouraged pursuant to any State law or regulation promulgated

pursuant thereto, the determination shall not take effect without first receiving

the review and the approval of the commissioner. If the commissioner does not issue an approval or disapproval within 30 calendar

days of transmittal by the clerk, the determination shall be deemed to be approved. If the area in need of redevelopment is situated in an area in which development

or redevelopment is to be encouraged pursuant to any State law or regulation promulgated

pursuant thereto, then the determination shall take effect after the clerk has transmitted

a copy of the resolution to the commissioner. The determination, if supported by substantial evidence and, if required, approved

by the commissioner, shall be binding and conclusive upon all persons affected by

the determination. (d) Notice of the determination shall be served, within 10 days after the determination, upon all record owners of property located within the delineated area, those whose

names are listed on the tax assessor's records, and upon each person who filed a written objection thereto and stated, in or upon the

written submission, an address to which notice of determination may be sent. (e) If the governing body resolution assigning the investigation to the planning board,

pursuant to subsection a. of this section, stated that the redevelopment determination

shall establish a Condemnation Redevelopment Area, the notice of the determination

required pursuant to subparagraph (d) of this paragraph shall indicate that: (i) the determination operates as a finding of public purpose and authorizes the municipality

to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property in the redevelopment area,

and (ii) legal action to challenge the determination must be commenced within 45 days

of receipt of notice and that failure to do so shall preclude an owner from later

raising such challenge. (f) No municipality or redevelopment entity shall exercise the power of eminent domain

to acquire property for redevelopment purposes within a Non-Condemnation Redevelopment

Area. (g) If a municipal governing body has determined an area to be a Non-Condemnation

Redevelopment Area and is unable to acquire property that is necessary for the redevelopment

project, the municipality may initiate and follow the process set forth in this section

to determine whether the area or property is a Condemnation Redevelopment Area. Such determination shall be based upon the then-existing conditions and not based

upon the condition of the area or property at the time of the prior Non-Condemnation

Redevelopment Area determination. (h) A property owner who has received notice pursuant to this section who does not

file a legal challenge to the redevelopment determination affecting his or her property

within 45 days of receipt of such notice shall thereafter be barred from filing such

a challenge and, in the case of a Condemnation Redevelopment Area and upon compliance

with the notice provisions of subparagraph (e) of this paragraph, shall further be

barred from asserting a challenge to the redevelopment determination as a defense

in any condemnation proceeding to acquire the property unless the municipality and

the property owner agree otherwise. (6) The municipality shall, for 45 days next following its determination , take no further action to acquire any property by condemnation within the redevelopment

area. (7) If any person shall, within 45 days after the adoption by the municipality of the determination , apply to the Superior Court, the court may grant further review of the determination

by procedure in lieu of prerogative writ; and in any such action the court may make

any incidental order that it deems proper. c. An area determined to be in need of redevelopment pursuant to this section shall

be deemed to be a “blighted area” for the purposes of Article VIII, Section III, paragraph 1 of the Constitution . If an area is determined to be a redevelopment area and a redevelopment plan is

adopted for that area in accordance with the provisions of this act, the municipality

is authorized to utilize all those powers provided in section 8 of P.L.1992, c. 79 ( C.40A:12A-8 ) , except that a municipality may not acquire any land or building by condemnation

pursuant to subsection c. of that section unless the land or building is located within

(1) an area that was determined to be in need of redevelopment prior to the effective

date of P.L.2013, c. 159, or (2) a Condemnation Redevelopment Area for which the municipality has complied

with the provisions of subparagraph (e) of paragraph (5) of subsection b. of this

section .