27:7-74. Definitions

As used in this act:

a. "Agency" means the entity public or private, including the State of New Jersey, Department of Transportation, counties, municipalities, and other public entities utilizing State or federal funds under an aid program administered by the State of New Jersey, Department of Transportation, which is condemning private property for a public purpose under the power of eminent domain. The Department of Transportation may exercise, on behalf of any county, municipality, or other public entity, as the case may be, the powers granted to these entities under P.L. 1972, c. 47 (C. 27:7-72 et seq.) or this 1989 amendatory and supplementary act.

b. "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or association.

c. "Displaced person" means, except as otherwise provided in this section, the following:

(1) A person who moves from real property, or moves his personal property from real property:

(a) as a direct result of a written notice of intent to acquire, or the acquisition of, the real property, in whole or part, for a program or project undertaken by an agency; or

(b) on which the person is a residential tenant or conducts a small business, a farm operation, or a business, as defined in paragraph (4) of subsection d. of this section, as a direct result of rehabilitation, demolition, or such other displacing activity as the agency may prescribe, under a program or project undertaken by the agency after determining that the displacement is permanent; and

(2) Solely for the purposes of subsections a. and b. of section 4 and section 7 of P.L. 1972, c. 47 (C. 27:7-75 and C. 27:7-78), any person who moves from real property or moves his personal property from real property:

(a) as a direct result of a written notice of intent to acquire, or the acquisition of, other real property, in whole or in part, on which the person conducts a business or farm operation, for a program or project undertaken by an agency; or

(b) as a direct result of rehabilitation, demolition, or such other displacing activity as the agency may prescribe, or other real property on which the person conducts a business or a farm operation, under a program undertaken by an agency where the agency determines that such displacement is permanent.

The term "displaced person" does not mean: a person who has been determined, according to criteria established by the commissioner, to be either in unlawful occupancy of the displacement property or to have occupied the property for the purpose of obtaining assistance under this chapter; or in any case in which the agency acquires property for a program or project, any person, other than a person who was an occupant of the property at the time it was acquired, who occupies the property on a rental basis for a short term or a period subject to termination when the property is needed for the program or project.

d. "Business" means any lawful activity, excepting a farm operation, conducted primarily:

(1) For the purchase, sale, lease, and rental of personal and real property and for the manufacture, processing, or marketing of products, commodities, or any other personal property;

(2) For the sale of services to the public;

(3) By a nonprofit organization;

(4) For the purposes of section 4 of this act for assisting in the purchase, sale, resale, manufacturing, processing or marketing of products, commodities, personal property or services by the erection and maintenance of an outdoor advertising display or displays, whether or not such display or displays are located on the premises on which any of the above activities are conducted.

e. "Farm operation" means any activity conducted solely or primarily for the production of one or more agricultural products or commodities, including timber, for sale or home use, and customarily producing such products or commodities in sufficient quantity to be capable of contributing materially to the operator's support.

f. "Mortgage" means such classes of liens as are commonly given to secure advances on, or the unpaid purchase price of real property under the laws of the State in which the real property is located, together with credit instruments, if any, secured thereby.

g. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Transportation of the State of New Jersey.

h. "Department" means the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

i. "Comparable replacement dwelling" means any dwelling that meets the criteria established by the commissioner in accordance with federal standards with respect to safety, sanitation, size, affordability, functionality, environmental conditions, and location.

j. "Dwelling" means a structure, or portion thereof, which serves primarily as a residence for one or more persons.

L. 1972, c. 47, s. 3; amended 1989,c.50,s.2.