N.J. Admin. Code § 2:76-17A.6

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

Section 2:76-17A.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, subject to the following:

1. The municipality's initial annual planning application shall include a copy of the municipality's comprehensive farmland preservation plan and all applicable project area inventories, pursuant to N. J.A.C. 2:76-17A.4 and 17A.5.

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

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

ii. Project area inventories;

iii. A report summarizing:

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

(2) The expenditure of Committee funds previously available pursuant to N.J.A.C. 2:76-17A.8;

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

(4) Updates to contact information for the planning incentive grant administrator and agricultural advisory committee members; and

iv. Copies of minutes of the agricultural advisory committee meetings held in compliance with N.J.A. C. 2:76-17A.3(a)1iv.

3. Each year's annual planning application shall be accompanied by a resolution of support from the governing body, and documentation of the agricultural advisory committee's review of the proposed application.

(b) To improve municipal and county farmland preservation program coordination, the municipality shall forward its annual planning application to the board for review no later than 90 days prior to the date on which it submits its application to the Committee, and no less than 90 days prior to the December 15 application deadline.

1. If county funding is sought, the board shall review the annual planning application and provide comments within 60 days from receipt of the application to ensure that the application is consistent with the county's comprehensive farmland preservation plan.

i. The board shall provide any comments and, if appropriate, identify the level of funding that the county is willing to provide to assist in the purchase of development easements on targeted farms.

ii. The municipality shall consider the board's comments before submitting the annual planning application to the Committee, amend the application, if appropriate, and forward the approved application to the Committee.

2. If county funding is not sought, the board shall review the annual planning application and provide comments to the municipality within 60 days of receipt of the application to determine to what extent the municipality's application is consistent with the county's comprehensive farmland preservation plan.

(c) A municipality may enhance its annual planning application by submitting a joint proposal with one or more contiguous municipalities resulting in the preservation of a more significant area of reasonably contiguous farmland and submit it to the board pursuant to the provisions in (b) above.

(d) 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 § 2:76-17A.6

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