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This entry was published on 2019-12-13
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SECTION 13.14
Closure of lands owned, held or administered by the office
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (PAR) CHAPTER 36-B, TITLE C, ARTICLE 13
§ 13.14 Closure of lands owned, held or administered by the office. 1.
Except as provided in subdivision five of this section, not less than
six months before the proposed permanent closure of a park or historic
site owned, held or administered by the office, the commissioner shall
issue a draft report that provides the justification and rationale for
such closure including, but not limited to:

(a) a full description of the real property;

(b) the purposes that the park or historic serves to the people of the
state;

(c) an analysis of the potential harm to such real property from
vandalism, lack of management and maintenance, and other impacts from
the lack of regular oversight by the office;

(d) the impact of such proposed closure on the entire real property
system owned and operated by the office; and

(e) such other factors that are particularly relevant to the real
property and its function as state land.

2. Not less than four months before the proposed permanent closure of
public access to such park or historic site, the commissioner shall
provide public notice of and conduct one or more public hearings in the
impacted area of the proposed closure. Notice of any such hearing shall
be in the environmental notice bulletin. Each public hearing shall
accept written statements in lieu of an oral presentation.

3. Upon conclusion of the public hearings on a closure, the
commissioner shall issue a final report which includes the response on
all issues raised at the hearings and information entered into the
hearing record. Such final report shall be posted on the website of the
office.

4. The commissioner shall issue and submit to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the
chair of the senate cultural affairs and tourism committee and the chair
of the assembly, parks, arts and sports development committee a findings
statement on each proposed closure that provides the justification for
such closure or, in the alternative, the information that supports the
continued operation of the real property.

5. The requirements of this section shall not apply to seasonal park
closures, temporary closures due to inclement weather or as reasonably
necessary to effectuate repairs, maintenance or capital improvements, or
temporary limits on public access for routine operational reasons, such
as public safety or other emergencies.