The Inter-municipal Policy Agreement Between the Somerset County Planning Board and

Governing Bodies within Somerset County

 

Memorandum of Understanding: Projects of Regional Significance

 

Summary

 

A requirement of participation in the Somerset County Municipal Planning Partnership Program is the agreement by municipalities to sign and adhere to the principals embodied in the "Inter-municipal Policy Agreement Between the Somerset County Planning Board and Governing Bodies within Somerset County / Memorandum of Understanding: Projects of Regional Significance."  In this agreement, Somerset County and its constituent municipalities recognize that they are part of an interdependent regional fabric of planning and infrastructure needs that often transcend municipal jurisdictional lines.  The agreement recognizes that large-scale housing or commercial developments can have substantial and far-reaching effects beyond the jurisdiction in which they are located.  It further recognizes that many growth and redevelopment issues can best be addressed by joint regional solutions utilizing sound and inter-related municipal, county and state plans.

 

In order to promote regional planning and inter-municipal planning coordination and to address the impacts of “Projects Regional Significance”, the Somerset County Planning Board hosted numerous meetings over a two year period with the planning chairs and governing officials of the County’s municipalities.  Based on these meetings, the Somerset County Planning Board developed a model inter-local agreement on inter-municipal planning coordination and “Projects Regional Significance.” 

 

The agreement stipulates that Somerset County and its constituent municipalities recognize that they are part of an interdependent regional fabric of planning and infrastructure needs that often transcend municipal jurisdictional lines.  The agreement recognizes that large-scale housing or commercial development, because of their character or location, can have substantial and far-reaching effects beyond the jurisdiction in which they are located.  It further recognizes that many growth and redevelopment issues can best be addressed by joint regional solutions through sound and inter-related municipal, county and state plans. 

 

To this end, the agreement addresses procedures and guidelines for inter-jurisdictional communication and cooperation that each participating municipality will follow when a project of "regional significance" is proposed.  This ensures that neighboring communities have an opportunity to provide input when a large-scale development is proposed within its boundaries that will have impacts beyond the municipal boundary lines. Projects of Regional Significance are defined in the agreement as: "land developments of more than 150 dwelling units or 100,000 square feet of non-residential buildings space, all major subdivisions or site plans within 500 feet of a municipal border, or developments impacting critical natural resources like primary or secondary streams identified in the County Open Space Plan, that may affect neighboring jurisdictions." 

 

As of May 1, 2004, signers of this agreement include the following municipalities: 

 

Bedminster Township, Bound Brook Borough, Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, Far Hills Borough, Franklin Township, Green Brook Township, Hillsborough Township, Manville Borough, Millstone Borough, Montgomery Township, North Plainfield Borough, Peapack & Gladstone Borough, Borough of Raritan, Borough of Rocky Hill, Borough of Somerville, Borough of South Bound Brook, Township of Warren, Borough of Watchung