2014 Annual Report New Jersey Meadowlands Commission 45 Years of Service to the Meadowlands Region AGENCY OVERVIEW The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) is Today the Meadowlands District boasts a completely different take NJMC pontoon boat and canoe tours of the Hackensack the planning and zoning authority for the 30.4-square- landscape, both economically and environmentally. Over the River, walk nature trails in District parks, participate in guided mile Meadowlands District, which consists of portions of 14 past four decades, the NJMC has built a thriving economic bird walks, and attend special nature-themed events. municipalities in Bergen and Hudson counties. The District engine in the District and brought about an extraordinary municipalities in Bergen County are Carlstadt, East Rutherford, environmental revival. Through its Meadowlands Environment Center, the Commission Little Ferry, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, North Arlington, Ridgefield, provides environmental science programs to schoolchildren Rutherford, South Hackensack and Teterboro. Hudson County By closing landfills and planning for appropriate growth, the through a contract with Ramapo college. The NJMC also municipalities are Jersey City, Kearny, North Bergen and Commission has attracted billions of dollars in economic offers nature education programs for the general public. Both Secaucus. development while being sensitive to environmentally important initiatives help to raise awareness of the critical importance of wetlands. Today, the Commission continues to promote environmental protection and stewardship in the Meadowlands The NJMC was created by an Act of the State Legislature in economic growth, development and investment in the region District and beyond. 1968 (N.J.S.A. 13:17-1 et seq) and tasked with a three-fold through its redevelopment plans that turn underutilized and mandate: to provide for orderly development of the region, to abandoned properties into thriving homes for industry. Thanks to its hard work, the NJMC has proven that economic provide facilities for the sanitary disposal of solid waste and to growth and environmental preservation are not mutually protect the delicate balance of nature. Simultaneously, the Commission has preserved thousands of exclusive. Moving forward, the NJMC stands committed acres of wetlands and conducted scientific research that has to building upon its solid foundation of success to ensure At the time of its creation, the Meadowlands District was defined helped improve air, soil and water quality. The NJMC’s work a prosperous economic and environmental future for the by dozens of orphaned landfills that were the site of rampant in cleaning up the Hackensack River estuary has fostered a Meadowlands District. illegal dumping. The Hackensack River, which runs throughout significant rebound in the region’s wildlife. The NJMC’s efforts the District, was so polluted that even barnacles, among the have also made the Meadowlands District a premier ecotourism hardiest of invertebrates, could not survive. destination. Thousands of people visit the area each year to Carlstadt • East Rutherford • Jersey City • Kearny • Little Ferry • Lyndhurst • Moonachie • North Arlington • North Bergen • Ridgefield • Rutherford • Secaucus • South Hackensack • Teterboro TABLE OF Contents MESSAGE FROM During 2014 the New Jersey has upgraded 107 signals THE CHAIRMAN Meadowlands Commission overall. The fifth and final Agency Overview ................................................. 2 (NJMC) continued its phase of the project, which commitment to fostering includes updating 21 signals, Message from the Chairman ................................ 3 economic growth in the is expected to be completed Meadowlands District while at in 2015. Board of Commissioners ...................................... 5 the same time protecting the area’s critical natural resources. NJMC staff continued in Message from the Executive Director .................. 6 I commend the NJMC for 2014 to carry out important its hard work that has made scientific research on the Executive Team .................................................... 7 the Meadowlands region an District’s wildlife and natural economic and environmental resources. Ongoing studies Economic Growth ................................................. 8 success. examining fish species and Diamondback Terrapins in Landfill Management ............................................ 12 Over the past year several the region’s waterways will RICHARD E. CONSTABLE, III businesses made the wise help the Commission gauge Floodplain Management ....................................... 13 Commissioner, NJ Department of Community Affairs decision to move to the the health of the Hackensack Chairman, NJ Meadowlands Commission Meadowlands District from River and its surrounding Transportation ...................................................... 14 wetlands. Manhattan and other locations. Municipal GIS Mapping Assistance ...................... 16 These companies know that The NJMC fostered the the Meadowlands is an ideal Meadowlands Research ....................................... 18 location to do business given importance of environmental stewardship in young people its close proximity to New Education ............................................................. 21 York City and major roadways, through its educational airports, rail lines, and seaports. programs. More than 15,000 Parks .................................................................... 22 Businesses also have the students participated in support of the NJMC. The the NJMC’s Meadowlands Ecotourism ........................................................... 24 Commission is a customer- Environment Center school service oriented agency that programs during the 2013- Public Programs and Community Education ......... 26 promotes a business-friendly 14 school year. Classes climate by offering staff cover a wide array of Intermunicipal Tax Sharing ................................... 28 assistance at no charge to scientific disciplines including companies and developers ecology, chemistry, biology, Financial Report ................................................... 29 as they move through the physics, natural history and development application astronomy. process. These are just a few The Commission also made of the NJMC’s many great strides to fully implement accomplishments in its innovative Meadowlands 2014. The Commission’s Adaptive Signal System for outstanding record of Traffic Reduction project achievement continues (MASSTR). This program to be the result of the benefits both commerce and vision of the NJMC Board the environment by modernizing of Commissioners and 128 traffic signals to reduce the tireless efforts of our traffic delays, congestion and dedicated professional staff. air pollution. In 2014, the The Commission looks NJMC completed work on 33 forward to continuing to signalized intersections and position the Meadowlands District as an economic driver and environmental jewel. Carlstadt • East Rutherford • Jersey City • Kearny • Little Ferry • Lyndhurst • Moonachie • North Arlington • North Bergen • Ridgefield • Rutherford • Secaucus • South Hackensack • Teterboro BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE TEAM BERNARD M. NANGLE maintaining its facility in 2001-2003. The previous Secaucus. In addition, studies showed a large Deputy Executive Director technology company increase in the abundance CEO, Meadowlands Conservation Trust FolioDynamix relocated of certain species in the CHRISTINE SANZ, ESQ. to the region while river, indicating that efforts Chief Operating Officer / Chief Counsel Major League Baseball to clean the Hackensack significantly expanded its have been successful. E DWARD H. BULMER existing office space in The NJMC is hopeful Acting Director of Finance / CFO Secaucus. that the current research Accounting and Finance will continue this positive Purchasing In July 2014, the trend and help deepen our General Services Commission unveiled understanding of the health Escrow Operations the new West Riser Tide of the Hackensack River Municipal Shared Services RICHARD E. cONSTABLE, III J AMES V. BOCCHINO ALBERT E. CAMERON, JR. M AURO DEGENNARO MARCIA A. KARROW Gate near Moonachie. watershed. A DAM LEVY, ESQ. The state-of-the-art Commissioner, Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Executive Director, Director of Legal Affairs / Chief of Renewable New Jersey Department structure replaced an In September, visitors to Energy Project Development New Jersey Meadowlands aging tide gate and DeKorte Park, the home of of Community Affairs Commission Legal Services Chairman, will help better protect the NJMC, were thrilled to Renewable Energy New Jersey Meadowlands residential, industrial and see the Marsh Discovery Commission I am pleased to Sara SUNDELL, P.E., P.P. present the New commercial properties Trail reopened. The half- in Moonachie, Carlstadt, mile boardwalk loop that Director of Land Use Management Jersey Meadowlands Chief Engineer Commission’s (NJMC) and Teterboro, including extends over the park’s Teterboro Airport, from marshes is DeKorte’s Site Plan Review 2014 Annual Report, Planning which details the agency’s daily tidal flooding from most popular trail and a the Hackensack River. great place to enjoy the Transportation many accomplishments Construction Code Meadowlands’ stunning over the past 12 months Over the past year, NJMC Plan Review/UCC Code Enforcement in areas including natural beauty and