New Jersey § 4:1c-24

§ 4:1c-24.

a. (1) Landowners within a municipally approved program or other farmland preservation

program shall enter into an agreement with the board, and the municipal governing

body, if appropriate, to retain the land in agricultural production for a minimum

period of eight years. (2) Any landowner whose land is within a municipally approved program or other farmland

preservation program or any landowner whose land qualifies for differential property

tax assessment pursuant to the “Farmland Assessment Act of 1964,” P.L.1964, c. 48

( C.54:4-23.1 et seq. ), and which is included in an agricultural development area, may enter into an agreement

to convey a development easement on the land to the board. The development easement may be permanent or for a term of 20 years. (3) Any agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall

constitute a restrictive covenant and shall be filed with the municipal tax assessor

and recorded with the county clerk in the same manner as a deed. Any development easement conveyed pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall

be filed with the municipal tax assessor and recorded with the county clerk in the

same manner as a deed. The recording of any such agreement or development easement of limited term shall

include notification that the committee may exercise the first right and option to

purchase a fee simple absolute interest in the land pursuant to P.L.1989, c. 28 ( C.4:1C-38 et al.). b. A landowner, or a farm operator as an agent for the landowner, whose land is within

a municipally approved program or other farmland preservation program, or is subject

to a development easement conveyed pursuant to subsection a. of this section, shall

be eligible to, and may, apply to the local soil conservation district and the board

for a grant for a soil and water conservation project approved by the State Soil Conservation

Committee, subject to the provisions of P.L.1983, c. 32 ( C.4:1C-11 et al.). c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1989, c. 310 .) d. Approval by the local soil conservation district and the board for grants for soil

and water conservation projects shall be contingent upon a written agreement by the

person who would receive funds that the project shall be maintained for a specified

period of not less than three years, and shall be a component of a farmland conservation

plan approved by the local soil conservation district. e. If the landowner applying for funds for a soil and water conservation project pursuant

to this section provides 50% of those funds without assistance from the county, the

local soil conservation district shall review, approve, conditionally approve or disapprove

the application. The committee shall certify that the land on which the soil and water conservation

project is to be conducted has had a development easement conveyed from it pursuant

to subsection a. of this section or is part of a municipally approved program or other

farmland preservation program.