ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4180

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 8, 2020

      The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4180.

      This bill amends the “Coastal Area Facility Review Act” (CAFRA), P.L.1973, c.185 (C.13:19-1 et seq.), which regulates development in the coastal area of the State.  Specifically, the bill:  amends the definition of “dwelling unit”; adds a definition for “seasonal or temporary structures related to the tourism industry”; and establishes a general permit allowing for the construction of certain seasonal or temporary structures related to the tourism industry. 

      The bill amends the definition of “dwelling unit” to omit cabanas from the definition.  The bill adds a definition for the term “seasonal or temporary structures related to the tourism industry.” The bill would define the term in a similarly to how the term is defined by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the Coastal Zone Management Rules, N.J.A.C.7:7-1.1 et seq., except that the bill adds “cabanas” to the list of structures that are included within the definition.

      Lastly, the bill would codify in the statutes the DEP's General Permit No. 22, currently authorized in the administrative code at N.J.A.C.7:7-6.22, concerning the construction of certain structures related to the tourism industry at hotels and motels, commercial developments, and multi-family residential developments with more than 75 units.  The bill would require the DEP Commissioner to issue a general permit (a type of simplified permit in lieu of a permit otherwise required by the law) for such construction, provided that specified criteria set forth in the bill are met.