This bill mandates the State Planning Commission to create rules and regulations or publish a regulatory guidance document to assist municipal planning boards and other agencies in evaluating applications for warehouse development under the "Municipal Land Use Law." The guidance publication must be produced in a clear, plain-language format and include examples of typical questions and reports that should be requested from warehouse development applicants. These inquiries will address community concerns such as traffic volumes, road safety, and environmental impacts. The commission is also required to make this guidance publicly available on its website.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law to require the Commissioner of Community Affairs to incorporate the newly developed guidance into the training course for local planning and zoning board officials. The course will now include a specific module on warehouse development, ensuring that officials are well-informed about the regulatory guidance. The bill aims to enhance local authorities' ability to assess the implications of warehouse developments, particularly in light of the growing e-commerce sector, which has raised concerns about the effects of such facilities on surrounding neighborhoods. The bill will take effect immediately, with the guidance publication due by the first day of the third month following its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40:55D-23.3