PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City of Cape May has contacted the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“Department”), Green Acres Program, proposing to dispose of 0.14 +/- acres of parkland, which is located along St. John Street, at or near the intersection of St. John Street and Lafayette Street, and identified as Block 1061, Lots 44 and 47 of the Official Tax Maps of the City of Cape May (the “Existing Parkland”) in connection with the proposed relocation of the City’s police station and development of a new police station facility on site.  The Existing Parkland is located within a designated Overburdened Community and in accordance with Executive Order 23, the Department will be taking Environmental Justice issues into consideration when evaluating the proposed disposal application to the extent not inconsistent with law.  As compensation for the proposed disposal, the City proposes to dedicate as parkland approximately 4.86 +/- acres of City-owned land, commonly known as the Sewell Tract, and identified as Block 1163, Lot 7; Block 1164, Lot 6; Block 1165, Lots 1 and 6; and, Block 1167, Lot 2; Block 1168, Lot 2 on the Official Tax Maps of the City of Cape May and commonly referred to as the Sewell Tract (“Replacement Land”).  The proposed Replacement Land is subject to determination of eligibility as replacement land by the Green Acres Program, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-26.10(d)2.  The proposed disposal of the Existing Parkland will allow for the potential development of a new police station facility, while creating a larger park area with the Replacement Land.

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-26.8(a), a scoping hearing to obtain public comment on this request will be held at the City of Cape May City Hall Auditorium, 643 Washington Street, Cape May, New Jersey 08204 on Monday, April 18, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.

All interested parties are invited to attend and participate in the scoping hearing. Written comments on the proposed disposal request may be directed to the City of Cape May Clerk, Erin C. Burke, at 643 Washington Street, Cape May, New Jersey 08204. You may also call Ms. Burke at 609-884-9532 with any questions regarding the scoping hearing. 

Please send a copy of any comments submitted on this request to Attention: Mackenzie Piggott, Cape May County Steward; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Transactions and Public Lands Administration, 401 East State Street, P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 401-07B, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420.

Public comment on the proposed disposal request will be accepted during the Scoping Hearing or until two weeks after the scoping hearing date, which will be Monday, May 2, 2022.