(1) The redevelopment agencies of municipalities across this State renew the vitality and fabric of their neighborhoods and business districts, improve their image, visibility and stature, construct new housing, generate employment opportunities for the local work force and draw consumers and tourists to the municipality; and

(2) These agencies achieve these goals by planning and implementing projects that provide housing, jobs, parks and office buildings; and

(3) Municipalities with a large area and population are faced with a greater burden of responsibility in order to achieve their goals than their smaller, less populated counterparts; and

(4) Increasing the number of commissioners on the redevelopment agencies of larger municipalities in this State will expedite the redevelopment of these municipalities and contribute to a Statewide renaissance that stands to benefit all State residents.

b. Notwithstanding other provisions of this law to the contrary, a municipality with an area of more than 15 square miles and having a population of more than 40,000, according to the most recent federal decennial census, may create a redevelopment agency with nine commissioners or increase the membership of a redevelopment agency already created from seven to nine commissioners. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the commissioners shall be appointed by the governing body in the manner generally required for appointments by the form of government under which the municipality is governed. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, commissioners shall each serve for a term of five years; except that the first of these appointees shall be designated to serve for the following terms: one for a term of one year, two for a term of two years, two for terms of three years, two for a term of four years, and two for terms of five years. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, where a redevelopment agency of seven commissioners already exists, the additional two commissioners shall be appointed to initial terms of two and four years, as determined by lot.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, whenever a municipality governed by the borough form of government pursuant to N.J.S. 40A:60-1 et seq. creates a redevelopment agency with nine commissioners, or increases the membership of a redevelopment agency from seven to nine commissioners, two commissioners shall be members of the borough council to be appointed by the council. A member of council so appointed may designate another resident of the borough to serve on the redevelopment agency for any particular meeting in the event the member of council is unavailable. The term of a commissioner who is a member of a borough council shall be one year or terminate upon completion of the council-member’s term of office, whichever occurs first.

No more than three commissioners shall be officers or employees of the municipality. Each commissioner shall continue to hold office at the expiration of a term until a successor shall have been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy occurring in the office of commissioner, from any cause, shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term.

L.2005,c.275,s.1.