HANOVER TOWNSHIP — On Thursday evening, January 12, the Township Committee, the governing body of the Township of Hanover, during its regular, open public meeting, will convene two public hearings concerning the proposed release and replacement of a Patriots’ Path public access and conservation easement held by the Township on a portion of the Hanover Towne Center property (former Pine Plaza Mall) located at 801-849 Route 10 East in the Whippany.
This property is also designated as Lots 12, 13, and 14 in Block 4001, as set forth on the Tax Map of the Township.
The property in question is a total of 19.77 acres. In the event of a snowstorm, the public hearings will be held on Thursday, February 9.
The two public hearings are being held in accordance with N.J.S.A. 13: 8B-5 and N.J.A.C. 7: 36-26.G(c) in conjunction with the Township’s application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, for the proposed disposal and replacement of this same aforementioned Patriots’ Path public access and conservation easement held by the Township.
The Township proposes to divert 0.84 acres of the property under the Green Acres Program’s rules and replace it with a 1.04-acre trail and conservation easement on the same Hanover Towne Center property.
It will remain deed restricted under the Green Acres Program’s rules. With the redevelopment of the Towne Center property, there is now a need, and the opportunity, to relocate and construct the public trail and conservation easement to finally realize the intent of the original easement that dates back to 1990.
The relocation of the public access trail and conservation easement also requires the review and approval of the State House Commission and the Commissioner of the NJDEP. The application to Green Acres and related documents are posted here and will also be available at the Hanover Township Municipal Building and the Whippanong Library.
Suppose you are interested in making a public comment during the night of the Hearings or the written comment period. In that case, instructions are posted on the Township’s website under the Township News tab entitled “Hanover Towne Center Green Acres Disposal.”
Click here to view the Project Reference Maps.
