N.J. Admin. Code § 2:76-17.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 2:76-17.4 - County comprehensive farmland preservation plan

(a) A comprehensive farmland preservation plan shall include, at a minimum, the following components:

1. A complete description of the county's agricultural resource base and industry trends;

2. A complete description of the county's past and future farmland preservation program activities, including program goals and objectives, and any proposed farmland preservation program project areas;

3. A complete description of the land use planning context for farmland preservation initiatives including identification of the county's adopted ADA, and consistency of the county's farmland preservation program with local, county, regional, and State planning and conservation efforts; and

4. A complete discussion of actions the county has taken, or plans to take, to promote agricultural economic development in order to sustain the agricultural industry.

(b) A comprehensive farmland preservation plan shall include, either in the body of the plan, or as an addendum to the plan, the following:

1. A detailed map of, and board resolution approving, the adopted ADA of the county;

2. A map of the proposed farmland preservation project areas, and the location and extent of the following important farmland soils:

i. Prime soils identified by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service;

ii. Soils of Statewide importance as identified by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, State Soil Conservation Committee; and

iii. Unique soils, identified by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, which are especially suited for the production of specialty crops and are being used, or intended to be used, for that purpose;

3. A summary identifying county funding dedicated to, or available for, preservation of farmland through the State Farmland Preservation Program;

4. A funding plan for the preservation of land consistent with the county's one-, five- and 10-year preservation projections that includes identification of available funding sources and any approved policies related to funding sources;

5. The minimum eligibility criteria or standards as adopted by the board for solicitation and approval of individual farm applications considered by the board, which shall include:

i. At a minimum, the criteria at N.J.A.C. 2:76-6.20; and

ii. If Committee funds are requested, the criteria to qualify as an eligible farm;

6. The adopted ranking criteria that the board will use to prioritize farms for county farmland preservation funding, which shall address the factors included in the criteria at N.J.A.C. 2:76-6.16; and

7. Any other policies, guidelines, or standards used by the board that affect individual farm application evaluation or selection.

(c) The board shall review and readopt the comprehensive farmland preservation plan pursuant to (a) and (b) above at least every 10 years.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:76-17.4

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 1549(a), effective 8/3/2020