N.J. Admin. Code § 2:76-17.6

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

Section 2:76-17.6 - Annual planning application procedures and requirements

(a) All annual planning applications shall be received by the Committee no later than December 15 of each year preceding the funding cycle for which planning incentive grant program funding is sought.

1. The board's initial annual planning application shall include a copy of the county's comprehensive farmland preservation plan and all applicable project area inventories pursuant to N.J.A.C. 2:76-17.4 and 17.5.

2.In any subsequent year, the board's annual planning application shall include the following:

i. A copy of the county's comprehensive farmland preservation plan, as amended if appropriate;

ii. Project area inventories; and

iii. A report summarizing:

(1) The status of the purchase of development easements from all active individual farm applications;

(2) The expenditure of Committee funds previously allocated pursuant to N.J.A.C. 2:76-17.8;

(3) Amendments to board farmland preservation policies, county funding availability, and estimates of easement purchase cost on all targeted farms; and

(4) Updates to contact information for the planning incentive grant administrator and board members.

(b) To improve county and municipal farmland preservation program coordination, the board shall notify all municipalities in which targeted farms are located within a project area no later than 90 days prior to the date on which it submits its annual planning application to the Committee, and no less than 90 days prior to the December 15 application deadline.

1. The municipality shall have 60 days from receipt of the application to provide written comments to the board, which should identify, if appropriate, the level of funding that the municipality is willing to provide to assist in the purchase of development easements on targeted farms.

(c) A board may enhance its annual planning application by submitting a joint proposal with one or more contiguous counties resulting in the preservation of a more significant area of reasonably contiguous farmland.

(d) The board shall consider the municipality's comments before submitting the annual planning application to the Committee. If the board approves the application, it shall forward the approved application to the Committee within the time provided under (b) above.

(e) Any annual planning application submitted after December 15 shall be considered by the Committee as an application for the subsequent funding cycle.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:76-17.6

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