Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver

January 29, 2018 - January Public Hearing Scheduled for Action Plan Substantial Amendment 25 for Rebuild by Design Meadowlands Flood Resiliency Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, January 29, 2018

 

Project Is Designed to Reduce Impacts of Coastal and Systemic Inland Flooding in Meadowlands Communities   

Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, January 31, 2018, to solicit public comment on the State’s Action Plan Substantial Amendment #25 (Action Plan) for the allocation of $150 million to the Rebuild by Design (RBD) Meadowlands Flood Protection Project in the Meadowlands communities of Little Ferry, Moonachie, Carlstadt, Teterboro, and South Hackensack (i.e. the Project Area). 

The public hearing, which DCA is hosting jointly with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Little Ferry Borough Hall located at 215-217 Liberty Street in Little Ferry. 

The hearing is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which is funding the project as part of its Rebuild by Design (RBD) program. In 2013, HUD launched the RBD competition to develop ideas to improve physical, ecological, economic and social resilience in regions affected by Superstorm Sandy. In June 2014, HUD selected the Meadowlands Project as one of six winners in its RBD competition. 

The RBD Meadowlands Project includes the construction of flood risk reduction measures intended to address the impacts of coastal and systemic inland flooding on the quality of the physical, natural, cultural and socioeconomic environment of the Project Area. After several years of comprehensive public engagement and analysis, the DEP has identified the preferred alternative for the RBD Meadowlands Project. A brief overview of the preferred alternative will be presented during the public hearing.  

The public hearing will take place in the Municipal Council chambers in Little Ferry Borough Hall. Members of the public will be given up to three minutes each to provide comments about Action Plan Amendment 25. 

The facility is accessible for the mobility-impaired. Spanish, Korean, and sign language interpretation will be available. Individuals needing special accommodations such as accessible seating or documentation in alternative formats may contact DCA’s Sandy Recovery Division Constituent Services at (609) 292-3750 or by email at sandy.recovery@dca.nj.gov. 

Residents may also submit written comments by email to sandy.publiccomment@dca.nj.gov or by mail to the attention of Constituent Services, Sandy Recovery Division, NJ Department of Community Affairs, 101 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 823, Trenton, NJ 08625. All comments will be considered equally, whether presented in-person at the public hearing or in writing. Comments must be received on or before February 11 at 5 p.m.