Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/june2011/proposed/14%20DE%20Reg%201324%2006-01-11.htm
Timestamp: 2018-03-17 04:21:32
Document Index: 511292788

Matched Legal Cases: ['§137', '§137', '§1309', '§137', '§1309', '§137', '§1309', '§1309']

The Department has broad statutory authority to acquire property in connection with state highway projects. However, an “Advanced Acquisition Committee” must review certain acquisitions of real property after the approval of the preferred alternative. The Department has adopted policies governing such acquisitions; nonetheless, these existing policies only apply to purchases of “fee simple” interests, and do not expressly apply to reservations. While the Committee has the statutory authority to determine whether certain advanced acquisitions are consistent with state planning goals, it does not currently have in place a process for reviewing the merits of such transactions.
The regulations below will implement specific recommendations for advanced acquisitions set forth in the Report of the Governor’s Chief of Staff to Governor Markell dated January 7, 2011 (the “Report”). Specifically, the regulations will (1) require that the Committee review not only advanced acquisitions, but reservation agreements as well; (2) provide a process for the Committee to review the merits of advanced acquisitions and reservation agreements; (3) require the Department to obtain independent appraisal for advanced acquisitions and reservations; (4) require that advanced acquisitions and reservations be reviewed by legal counsel; and (5) require that the terms of advanced acquisitions and reservations be reflected in an agreement signed by the Department and the property owner. In addition, the regulations also set out the process for the Committee to conduct its consistency review of certain real property acquisitions proposed by the Department, as contemplated by 17 Del.C. §137(a)(2).
1.1	The Department of Transportation has broad statutory authority to acquire public or private property and property rights in connection with the Department’s jurisdiction. Traditionally, the Department has acquired the necessary property rights upon final right-of-way plan approval for a project. In certain instances, the best interests of the state and individual property owners may be better served if such interests are either acquired or reserved by the Department prior to right-of-way plan approval. The purpose of this regulation is to enumerate the specific policies and procedures governing the acquisition and reservation of certain real property by the Department. It also sets out the process for the Committee to conduct its consistency review of certain real property acquisitions proposed by the Department, as contemplated by 17 Del.C. §137(a)(2).
1.2	In addition, the Department desires to have certain special property transactions reviewed and approved by the Committee established under Section 137(a)(2), that are not necessarily tied to a highway project location. Furthermore, certain other transportation facility acquisitions are carried out pursuant to 2 Del.C. §1309(5), which are not subject to approval by any other public body. Nonetheless, for these transactions, the Department believes it would be in the public interest to obtain a review and comment about the proposed acquisition from the Committee.
“Advanced acquisition” means the acquisition by the Department of any interest in real property prior to final right-of-way plan approval of the project for which such interest is being acquired. For purposes of this regulation and the Department’s Real Estate Manual, “advanced acquisitions” shall also include, without limitation, reservations.
“Consistency review” shall mean the review by the Committee pursuant to 17 Del.C. §137(a)(2) of acquisitions for new corridors, expansion of existing corridors, or the acquisition of real property as part of the Department's Corridor Capacity Preservation Program.
"Corridor" means a particular route of one or more highways of this State, serving predominantly statewide and/or regional travel needs. By way of example and not limitation, State Routes 1, 2, and 141, and U.S. Routes 13, 113, and 202 are corridors under this definition.
“Hardship acquisition” shall mean an advanced acquisition to resolve a specific hardship imposed upon the owner as a result of a project including, without limitation, long-term leases and reservations between an owner and the Department. Hardship acquisitions shall include situations in which an owner must relocate for personal reasons (e.g., job transfer, death in the family, retirement plans or medical reasons) and is unable to sell his or her property as a result of a project.
“New corridor” means a proposed capital improvement for a corridor-level highway, all or substantially all of which is to be built on previously unused alignment. By way of example and not limitation, the tolled portion of State Route 1 through Kent and New Castle County would have been considered a new corridor under this definition, at the time of its planning and eventual construction.
“Owner” shall mean the owner of the real property interest, which the Department seeks to acquire or reserve.
“Preferred alternative” shall mean the alternative that the Department believes would fulfill its statutory mission and responsibilities giving consideration to economic, environmental, technical and other factors.
“Project” means an undertaking for a capital improvement by the Department for a new corridor, expansion of an existing corridor, or acquisition of real property as part of the Corridor Capacity Preservation, and which uses state and/or federal funds.
“Protective acquisition” shall mean an advanced acquisition to allow the Department to protect from development real property within a project area in instances where development would increase the eventual cost of property acquisition to taxpayers or would limit location alternatives for the project. Protective acquisitions shall include, without limitation, long-term leases and reservations to allow the Department to protect from development real property within a project area.
“Special Property Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition of any interest in real property for Department transportation projects that are not necessarily related to the highways and streets under its jurisdiction and control. By way of example and not limitation, such acquisitions shall include acquisitions for transit maintenance facilities, commuter park-and-ride lots and similar facilities for the Delaware Transit Corporation pursuant to 2 Del.C. §1309(5); acquisitions of land to provide clear space for runway approaches for publicly owned or public-use airports; and other acquisitions of interests in real property in connection with Department transportation projects pursuant to 17 Del.C. §137 or any other legal authority.
3.0	Hardship Acquisition.
3.2	Written Request - The owner of the real property must submit to the Department a written request for a hardship acquisition.
3.1.1	A request for hardship acquisition of property located in New Castle County shall be submitted to the:
North District Real Estate Manager
250 Bear Christiana Road
3.1.2	A request for hardship acquisition of property located in Kent County or Sussex County shall be submitted to the:
South District Real Estate Manager
4.0	Protective Acquisition.
4.2	Written Request - All requests for a protective acquisition must be in writing.
4.2.1	A request for protective acquisition of property located in New Castle County shall be submitted to the:
4.2.2	A request for protective acquisition of property located in Kent County or Sussex County shall be submitted to the:
5.0	Procedures for Review and Approval of Advanced Acquisitions.
5.1	For advanced acquisitions satisfying the criteria set forth in Section 3.2 or 4.2, or for Special Property Acquisitions, as the case may be, the Department shall have an appraisal performed by its independent appraisers in accordance with the Department’s Real Estate Manual.
5.3	The Department will present the term sheet to the Advanced Acquisition Committee at a scheduled meeting as soon as reasonably practicable. The Committee shall consider the terms of and rationale for the proposed transaction and may either approve, approve with conditions, or reject such transaction. If the Committee approves the proposed transaction or approves with conditions, the Department shall negotiate the final terms with the owner. For Special Property Acquisitions made under the authority of 2 Del.C. §1309(5), the Committee’s review shall be considered an advisory opinion.
5.4	The material terms of all advanced acquisitions shall be reflected in an agreement prepared or reviewed by the Department’s legal counsel and signed by the owner and an authorized representative of the Department. For any agreements enacted prior to the effective date of this regulation but for which no contract exists that (a) sets forth the material terms of such agreement and (b) is signed by both the Department and owner, the parties thereto shall execute an agreement in conformance with this Section 5.4 no later than July 31, 2011.
6.1.1	For the preferred alternative for existing corridors or the expansion of existing corridors – After the projects are approved by the Council on Transportation.
6.1.2	For the Department’s Corridor Capacity Preservation Program and Special Property Acquisitions – Prior to any real property acquisitions.
6.3.4	where applicable, the Department’s adopted Corridor Capacity Preservation plan for the corridor for which the proposed acquisition would be made, along with other evidence showing how the acquisition furthers the Department’s goals under that Program; and
6.3.5	where applicable, the relevant project approvals obtained from the Federal Highway Administration.
6.3.6	evidence showing how the proposed acquisition furthers the Department’s goals for the particular project purpose, including a cost/benefit analysis and other relevant data;
6.3.7 a description of how the project fits within the State’s Strategies for Policies and Spending; and
6.3.8 documentation of the State Planning Office’s approval of the project.
6.4	If the Committee determines that the proposed acquisition is consistent with state planning goals, it shall then notify the Department in writing. For Special Property Acquisitions made under the authority of 2 Del.C. §1309(5), the Committee’s determination shall be considered an advisory opinion.
14 DE Reg. 1324 (06/01/11) (Prop.)