TRENTON, NJ—Gov. Chris Christie signed into law on Thursday a bill that reorganizes oversight of the Meadowlands and Liberty State Park and includes a controversial provision that would allow commercial development at Liberty State Park.

The bill now signed into law folds the operations of the Meadowlands Commission into the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. The governor said he would consider proposals by the bill sponsors Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senator Paul Sarlo to address some concerns with the bill.

“Though this legislation is imperfect in its current form, I believe it is important that we act to move forward with this commonsense consolidation of government to deliver savings to New Jersey taxpayers while we move forward with bipartisan agreement to address concerns with the current bill,” Gov. Christie stated.

The bill signed by Gov. Christie returns most of the commission's planning and zoning powers to each of the 14 towns and turn its scientific research center into a non-profit, according to The Record. The bill also increases the hotel tax in the district.

The provision that grants development powers to the sports authority at Liberty State Park was added to the bill at the 11th hour by the Christie administration. While some state officials say that more private concessions and venues will make Liberty Park more sustainable, critics charge that the bill could bring unwanted large commercial projects to the park. See story in The Record.

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Gov. Christie Signs Liberty State Park Development Bill

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