Exelon Corporation Approved for Minor Subdivision

The Exelon Corporation, owner of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, was granted permission by the Planning Board for a minor subdivision, which would split 500 acres into two parcels. A 217-acre parcel would be available to Lacey Township in the future.

“When the plant is decommissioned, we want to make sure the property along Route 9 isn’t sold to a developer,” Mayor Gary Quinn said. “The township has the right of first refusal.”

The land was originally made up of more than 20 small lots but this minor subdivision makes the situation cleaner, Quinn said.

“The subdivision is being created to cut off a 217-acre parcel to the east which would be dedicated to Lacey Township as part of the CZMA (Coastal Zone Management Agreement) agreement with the power plant and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP),” said Bruce Connell, vice president of East Coast Engineering.

The parcel being “cut off” runs along the Forked River Beach area and Oyster Creek to the south, Connell said. That property would be deeded to Lacey Township next year.

The remaining property is on the east, bordering Waretown.

Exelon, needs approval from the NJDEP, which would come with a CZMA agreement, Quinn said.

The CZMA was granted to Oyster Creek so the plant could continue operation during its last relicensing extension request, Connell said. The agreement dealt with many issues, including the township’s access to this parcel.

Exelon would be required to meet any NJDEP requirements before turning over the property to the township, Quinn said.

But once the township owns the property, there would be restrictions, Quinn said.

“There wouldn’t be any development,” Quinn said. “The property is encompassed with environmental issues.”

The land feeds into the Barnegat Bay and the river, Quinn said. Development is not permitted on the wetlands.

The agreement would be beneficial to the town because there are about 15 acres of uplands that borders Clune Park, Quinn said. The township would have the ability to expand the park in the future.

Quinn does not foresee any expansion until the economy improves, he said.

The riparian grant, a deed from the state selling its tidelands, for the site already exists, Quinn said.

Riparian rights were given to property owners adjacent to the tidelands, attorney Frank Tedesco said. The rights give the property owners priority to request use of the area.

This approval does not impact the emergency access road.