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Committee releases narrow waiver bill to let special-needs school expand near a tree-save area
Summary
Senate bill S2840 would permit lifting a conservation restriction in limited cases to allow expansion of a special-needs school. School representatives described a $25 million expansion and said DEP denied a waiver; senators discussed alternative State House Commission procedures but moved and released the bill.
Senate bill S2840, sponsored by Senator Singer, would allow the Department of Environmental Protection to lift certain conservation restrictions imposed as a condition of a CAFRA permit under specified circumstances. Representatives from the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence described a $25 million expansion project adjacent to the existing campus in Lakewood and said DEP denied their waiver request because replacement acreage in the same HUC watershed could not be found.
Mark Siegel, the school's executive director, and the school's engineer explained the project's benefits to students and families and asked the committee to consider the legislative remedy. Senators asked questions about alternative administrative options; Chairman Smith noted the State House Commission transfer process could be an option, and witnesses said they had explored multiple avenues over several years.
After discussion the committee voted to release the bill with committee amendments by roll call. Members encouraged sponsors to pursue parallel administrative tracks where possible but approved moving the legislation forward.
