13:17-34. Acquisition; eminent domain

(a) If for any of its authorized purposes (including temporary construction purposes) the commission shall find it necessary or convenient to acquire any real property within its jurisdiction, or if for any of its authorized purposes (including temporary construction purposes) the commission shall find it necessary to acquire any real property beyond its jurisdiction, whether for immediate or future use, the commission may find and determine that such property, whether a fee simple absolute or a lesser interest, is required for public use and, upon such determination, the said property shall be deemed to be required for a public use until otherwise determined by the commission; and the said determination shall not be affected by the fact that such property has heretofore been taken for, or is then devoted to, a public use of any municipality, county, school district, or other local or regional district, authority or agency, but the public use in the hands or under the control of the commission shall be deemed superior.

(b) If the commission is unable to agree with the owner or owners thereof upon terms for the acquisition of any such real property, for any reason whatsoever, then the commission may acquire, and is hereby authorized to acquire, such property, whether a fee simple absolute or a lesser interest, in the manner provided in chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Revised Statutes insofar as the provisions thereof are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions contained in this section.

(c) The commission may join, in separate subdivisions of one petition or complaint, the descriptions of any number of tracts or parcels of land or property to be condemned, and the names of any number of owners and other parties who may have an interest therein and all such land or property included in said petition or complaint may be condemned in a single proceeding; provided, however, that separate awards be made for each tract or parcel of land or property; and provided, further, that each of said tracts or parcels of land or property lies wholly in or has a substantial part of its value lying wholly within the same county.

(d) When the commission by resolution determines that it requires immediate possession or use of land or interest therein or other property, the commission shall file with the clerk of the county in which such property is located and also with the Clerk of the Superior Court a declaration of taking, signed by the commission, declaring that possession of one or more of the tracts or parcels of land or property described in the declaration is thereby being taken by and for the use of the commission. The said declaration of taking shall set forth (1) a description of each tract or parcel of land or property to be so taken sufficient for the identification thereof to which a plan or map thereof may be attached, (2) a statement of the estate or interest in the land or property being taken and (3) a statement of the sum of money estimated by the commission by resolution to be just compensation for the taking of the estate or interest in each tract or parcel of land or property described in said declaration. Upon the filing by the commission of a declaration of taking of property as provided in this section, the commission shall deposit with the Clerk of the Superior Court the amount of the estimated compensation stated in said declaration.

(e) Upon the filing by the commission of a declaration of taking of property as provided in this act and the depositing with the Clerk of the Superior Court of the amount of the estimated compensation stated in said declaration, the commission, without other process or proceedings, shall be entitled to the exclusive possession and use of each tract of land or property described in said declaration and may forthwith enter into and take possession of said land or property, it being the intent of this provision that an action to fix the compensation to be paid or any other proceeding relating to the taking of said land or interest therein or other property shall not delay the taking of possession thereof and the use thereof by the commission for the purpose or purposes for which the commission is authorized by law to acquire or condemn such land or property or interest therein.

(f) The commission shall cause notice of the filing of a declaration of taking of property as provided in this section and of the making of the deposit required by this section with respect thereto to be served upon each party to the action to fix the compensation to be paid who resides in the State, either personally or by leaving a copy thereof at his residence if known, and upon each such party who resides out of the State, by mailing a copy thereof to him at his residence if known. In the event that the residence of any such party or the name of any such party is unknown, such notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper published or circulating in the county or counties in which the property is located. Such service, mailing or publication shall be made within 30 days after filing such declaration.

(g) Upon the application of any party in interest and after notice to other parties in interest, including the commission, the Superior Court may direct that the money deposited with the Clerk of the Superior Court or any part thereof be paid forthwith to the person or persons entitled thereto for or on account of the just compensation to be awarded in such action, provided that each such person shall have filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court a consent in writing that, in the event the award in said action shall be less than the amount deposited, the court, after such notice as the court prescribes and hearing, may determine liability, if any, for the return of the difference or any part thereof and enter judgment therefor. If the amount of the award as finally determined shall exceed the amount so deposited, the person or persons to whom the award is payable shall be entitled to recover from the commission the difference between the amount of the deposit and the amount of the award, with interest at the rate of 6% per annum thereon from the date of making the deposit. If the amount of the award shall be less than the amount deposited, the Clerk of the Superior Court shall return the remainder of the deposit to the commission unless the deposit or any part thereof shall have theretofore been distributed, in which event the court, on application of the commission and notice to all persons interested in the award shall afford them an opportunity to be heard and shall enter judgment in favor of the commission for the difference against the party or parties liable for the return thereof.

(h) The commission shall not abandon any condemnation proceedings subsequent to the date upon which it has taken possession of the land or property as provided in this act.

L.1968, c. 404, s. 33.