New Jersey § 52:27d-159

§ 52:27d-159.

a. No municipality shall designate a neighborhood preservation agency or undertake

a neighborhood preservation project unless a determination has been made that in the

neighborhood preservation area or areas: (1) Deteriorating conditions have substantially reduced the incentive for private

investment and reinvestment; (2) Dilapidation, deterioration and obsolescence will become a prevalent without governmental

aid; (3) Deteriorating conditions can be reversed; and (4) The rehabilitation of housing is necessary in the interest of the public health,

safety and welfare. The determination shall be made by the planning board of the municipality, or, if

there be none, by the governing body. Where the determination is made by the planning board, it shall be subject to approval,

disapproval or modification by the governing body of the municipality. The determination shall be submitted by the planning board to the governing body

of the municipality in the form of a report and final action thereon shall be taken

by the said governing body within 30 days after the submission of said report. b. Upon making the findings as described in subsection a. hereof, a municipality shall

formulate a neighborhood preservation plan, pursuant to such rules and regulations

as the commissioner shall prescribe, which shall include but need not be limited to,

the following: (1) A comprehensive strategy for meeting neighborhood preservation needs which specifies

both short- and long-term neighborhood objectives in accordance with areawide development

planning; (2) A program which (a) includes activities to be undertaken to meet its neighborhood

preservation needs and objectives, together with the estimated costs thereof, (b)

indicates resources other than those provided under this act which are expected to

be made available toward meeting its identified needs and objectives, and (c) takes

into account appropriate environmental factors; (3) A plan which (a) accurately surveys the condition of the residential housing stock

in the neighborhood preservation area or areas, (b) specifies realistic annual goals

for the number of residential housing units or persons to be assisted, and (c) indicates

the general locations of proposed neighborhood preservation areas with the objective

of furthering the restoration and rehabilitation of stable neighborhoods to the maximum

extent possible, and assuring the availability of public facilities and services adequate

to serve the proposed neighborhood preservation area. c. Any municipality which plans to carry out a neighborhood preservation program shall

provide to the department satisfactory assurances that, prior to initiation of any

such program, the governing body has (a) provided citizens with adequate information

concerning the amount of funds available for proposed neighborhood preservation and

housing activities, as well as the range of activities that may be undertaken and

other important program requirements, (b) held public hearings to obtain the views

of citizens on neighborhood preservation and housing needs, and (c) provided citizens

an adequate opportunity to participate in the development of the neighborhood preservation

plan. d. A neighborhood preservation plan may be modified at any time; provided, that any

proposed modification of the neighborhood preservation plan is recommended by resolution

of the planning board and approved by resolution of the governing body, and pursuant

to regulations as may be prescribed by the commissioner. e. Any municipality receiving funds from the United States Department of Housing and

Urban Development pursuant to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 1 may satisfy the requirements of subsections b., c. and d. of this section by submitting

to the commissioner, copies of their community development plan and community development

program as approved pursuant to the said act; provided however that whenever the

State fund or funds other than such as may be provided to the municipality pursuant

to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, are utilized to carry out the

purposes of this act, the commissioner shall require compliance with the standards

as are established pursuant to this act. 1

42 U.S.C.A. § 5301 et seq.