Bill > A4777

Introduced Session

This bill prohibits a municipal agency from approving an application for development to construct or expand a warehouse, as defined in the bill, unless the Office of Local Planning Services (office) in the Department of Community Affairs has issued a certificate of need for the project, pursuant to the bill. A developer is to notify, in a form and manner determined by the office, a municipal agency of the developer's intent to submit an application for development to construct or expand a warehouse prior to applying for a certificate of need. A developer is to secure a certificate of need prior to submitting the application for development and is to include it with that application. The office is required to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill by establishing standards and criteria meriting the issuance of a certificate of need for a proposed warehouse project, including a requirement that the developer provide proof prior to development that: at least 90 percent of the proposed warehouse space is leased, or otherwise committed to active warehouse use, if the warehouse is to house multiple businesses; or 100 percent of the proposed warehouse space is leased, or otherwise committed to active warehouse use, if the warehouse is to house a single business. There are many large warehouses across this State that have been vacant for years, oftentimes located in close proximity to one another, creating a cycle of ruinous competition. This bill's intent is to ensure that new warehouses are guaranteed to be occupied with businesses, demonstrating the community's need for the warehouse.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Alex Sauickie (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 09/19/2024)

Official Document