27:1C-5. Joint planning process

a. Following the commissioner's designation and delineation of a district under section 4 of this act, the governing body of the county shall initiate a joint planning process for the district, with opportunity for participation by the State, all affected counties and municipalities and private representatives. Each affected governmental unit shall be notified by the county at the commencement of the joint planning process. The joint planning process shall produce a draft district transportation improvement plan and a draft financial plan.

b. The draft district transportation improvement plan shall establish goals and priorities for all modes of transportation within the district, shall incorporate the relevant plans of all transportation agencies within the district and shall contain a program of transportation projects which addresses transportation needs arising from rapid growth conditions prevailing in the district and which therefore warrants financing in whole or in part from a trust fund to be established under section 7 of this act, and shall provide for the assessment of development fees based upon the applicable formula as established by the commissioner by regulation. The draft district transportation improvement plan shall be in accordance with the State transportation master plan adopted under section 5 of P.L.1966, c.301 (C.27:1A-5), the county master plan adopted under R.S.40:27-2, and shall be in conformity with the State Development and Redevelopment Plan adopted under the "State Planning Act," P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et al.) and, to the extent appropriate, given the district-wide objectives of the plan, coordinated with local zoning ordinances and master plans adopted pursuant to the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.).

c. The draft financial plan shall include an identification of projected available financial resources for financing district transportation projects outlined in the draft district transportation improvement plan, including recommendations for types and rates of development fees to be assessed under section 7 of this act, and projected annual revenue to be derived therefrom.

d. The governing body of the county shall make copies of the draft district transportation improvement plan and the draft financial plan available to the public for inspection and shall hold a public hearing on them.

L.1989,c.100,s.5.