Cape May County and all its municipalities have adopted a resolution requesting Gov. Phil Murphy to consider a more incremental approach to proposed Land Use Rules by the State Department of Environmental Protection and to engage the Legislature rather than enacting highly impactful regulations into law by way of Executive Order.
County officials and mayors have also scheduled a Press Conference on Friday, Sept. 6 in Cape May Court House to warn of the rules’ impacts on the local economy.
A copy of that Resolution and additional information, including a study Analysis on the REAL Rules prepared by Lomax Environmental Consulting, can be found at the following County website link: NJPACT/REAL | Cape May County, NJ – Official Website (capemaycountynj.gov).
The DEP’s proposed Land Use rules would create coastal inundation zones that require 5 feet of elevation in new developments and redevelopment, that latter of which was previously exempt from state guidance, along with guidelines around stormwater runoff.
NJBIA and other business groups, as well as municipal representatives throughout the state, say the rules are too onerous and would create financial hardships.
In a statement, Cape May County said: “The proposed REAL rules include higher regulatory building standards that will increase construction costs for public and private projects countywide, putting distress on low and moderate income families and establishing unachievable compliance standards for historic structures and public infrastructure projects.
“(They will) expand flood hazard areas that will shrink developable land and increase construction costs that will impact development and redevelopment opportunities including affordable housing, impact ADA access due to the new stringent height requirements for new roads and construction.”
Commissioner Len Director Desiderio said: “My fellow County Commissioners and I acknowledge the importance of good environmental policy, and our County and its municipalities continue to practice coastal resiliency and the highest degree of floodplain management in all public planning and infrastructure projects.
“However, the REAL Rules based on sea level rise projections for the year 2100 with a less than 17% probability of occurring, are too much too quickly and the unknown economic impacts are too great of a concern for our county taxpayers.
“If Bryce Harper batted at a 17% success rate, he would be unemployed. That is why we are requesting the State to take a more incremental approach and engage the Legislators that the people voted in to serve their best interest, rather than approving these Rules into law by way of Executive Order.”
