Brooklawn Planning Board to Decide Whether to Investigate Browning Lane Apts. As Areas in Need of Redevelopment

The Brooklawn Planning Board will conduct a virtual, public hearing on June 24, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. to enable the Board to undertake a preliminary investigation as to whether or not to recommend that certain properties be designated as “areas in need of redevelopment.”

The blocks and lot numbers are:

• Block 117, Lots 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99
• Block 120, Lots 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55
• Block 121, Lots 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20

Tax records show that the properties in question are the Brooklawn Norse Apartments at 301, 401, and 501 Browning Lane and that Collier International NJ of Newark is listed as the property owner.

The Planning Board is to issue notices to the affected property owners and to the public in order to fulfill the requirement that comprehensive notice was given of the public hearing.

The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law provides municipalities with certain powers to assist them in redeveloping areas and properties within its boundaries.

The Planning Board has been asked to examine whether these properties meet the statutory criteria to be designated as “areas in need of redevelopment.”

This is the first step in a process that could give the Borough the power to acquire, if necessary, these properties through the use of eminent domain.

Therefore, what is commonly known as a condemnation action could be brought by the Borough to acquire these properties for the purposes described in the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

This Law provides municipalities with certain powers to assist them in redeveloping areas and properties within its boundaries.

The redevelopment process consists of several phases including the “determination of need” phase and the “redevelopment plan” phase.

The “determination of need” phase involves an investigation of the targeted sites and a determination as to whether the conditions in the target areas meet the criteria set forth in State Law allowing the Borough to redevelop that area.

The Planning Board has been asked by formal Resolution of the Brooklawn Borough Council to perform a study to determine if the conditions are present at the subject properties that meet the criteria contained in the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law for these properties to be deemed “in need of redevelopment.”

The hearing that will occur on June 24, 2020 before the Planning Board is part of the “determination of need” phase.

If the Planning Board determines these properties to be an area in need of redevelopment, this will be the first step in a redevelopment determination that will establish a “Condemnation Redevelopment Area,” which will authorize the Borough of Brooklawn to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property in the delineated area.

Persons who are interested in, or would be affected by, a Resolution of the Planning Board recommending the adoption by the Borough Council of the Borough of Brooklawn of a Resolution designating of the above listed properties to be “in need of redevelopment” are strongly encouraged to attend this hearing and state your opinions concerning such action.

Any objections to the adoption of such a Resolution by the Planning Board be filed, in writing, to the Planning Board prior to the hearing.

If the Planning Board adopts a Resolution recommending the adoption by the Brooklawn Borough Council designating the properties to be “in need of redevelopment,” any person desiring to challenge the adoption of this Resolution must do so by filing an action in lieu of prerogative writ in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Camden County within 45 days after its adoption by the Planning Board of the Borough of Brooklawn.

Otherwise, a citizen may lose their legal right to challenge the validity of the action of the Planning Board.

A map showing the extent of the area described above is on file in the Planning Board Office at the Brooklawn Municipal Building.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the map will be available for inspection prior to the hearing by special appointment only.

Interested persons wishing to view the map may do so by contacting the Planning Board Secretary, Maria Branson, at 856-456-0750 Extension 104 on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or via email at taxcollector@brooklawn-nj.com to make an appointment.

Anyone who is interested in, or who would be affected by the adoption of a Resolution recommending the adoption by the Brooklawn Borough of a Resolution designating of the above listed properties to be “in need of redevelopment,” as defined in N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 et. seq. (the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law), and who favor or are against such a Resolution, may be heard at the June 24 meeting.