40:55D-39.1 Provision for permanent protection of certain land.

9. a. An ordinance authorizing the planning board to approve planned developments, subdivisions, or site plans that allow for contiguous cluster or noncontiguous cluster shall provide for the permanent protection of land proposed to be preserved as public open space or common open space, as a historic site, or as agricultural land in accordance with the provisions set forth in this section.

b. Land identified for preservation as public open space shall be conveyed or dedicated by conservation restriction. A municipality may use a conservation restriction template prepared by the Department of Environmental Protection for this purpose. The Department of Environmental Protection shall make available to municipalities a conservation restriction template.

c. (1) Land identified for preservation as a historic site shall be conveyed or dedicated by historic preservation restriction. A municipality may use a historic preservation restriction template prepared by the New Jersey Historic Trust or obtain approval of the historic preservation restriction by the New Jersey Historic Trust. The New Jersey Historic Trust shall make available to municipalities a historic preservation restriction template.

(2) A municipality accepting a historic preservation restriction that has provided for and maintains an active historic preservation commission, consistent with sections 21 through 26 of P.L.1985, c.516 (C.40:55D-107 et seq.), may authorize the commission to establish a mechanism for annual monitoring and enforcement of the historic preservation restriction consistent with The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, Part 68 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations.

(3) A municipality accepting a historic preservation restriction that has not provided for or does not maintain an active historic preservation commission, consistent with sections 21 through 26 of P.L.1985, c.516 (C.40:55D-107 et seq.), or authorized the commission to establish a mechanism for annual monitoring and enforcement of the historic preservation restriction, may convey or authorize conveyance of the historic preservation restriction by municipal ordinance to a qualified public agency or non-profit preservation organization, as determined by the New Jersey Historic Trust, which has a commitment to administer, annually monitor, and enforce the terms of the historic preservation restriction consistent with The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, Part 68 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations.

d. (1) Land identified for preservation as agricultural land shall be conveyed or dedicated by agricultural restriction. A municipality shall use an agricultural restriction template prepared by the State Agriculture Development Committee or obtain approval of the agricultural restriction by the State Agriculture Development Committee. The State Agriculture Development Committee shall make available to municipalities an agricultural restriction template.

(2) An agricultural restriction may contain provisions:

(a) to allow limited non-agricultural uses which the State Agriculture Development Committee finds compatible with agricultural use and production;

(b) to allow future amendments to the area subject to the agricultural restriction in order to accommodate public improvements including but not limited to roadways, drainage facilities and other public infrastructure so long as the amendment results in only de minimis impact to the original area subject to the restriction;

(c) to allow the inclusion of existing dwelling units or limited additional future housing opportunities that directly support the property's agricultural operations and are appropriate to the scale of the preserved farmland.

(3) The State Agriculture Development Committee shall grant or deny approval of a proposed agricultural restriction within 60 days of receipt of a request therefor. If the State Agriculture Development Committee fails to act within this period, the failure shall be deemed to be an approval of the agricultural restriction.

(4) Municipalities authorizing agricultural restrictions shall have an adopted "Right to Farm" ordinance consistent with the model Right to Farm ordinance adopted by the State Agriculture Development Committee pursuant to the "Right to Farm Act," P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C-1 et al.).

(5) Agricultural land subject to an agricultural restriction approved by the State Agriculture Development Committee shall be provided the right to farm benefits under the "Right to Farm Act," P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C-1 et al.) and other benefits that may be provided pursuant to the "Agriculture Retention and Development Act," P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-11 et seq.).

e. Any development restriction shall be recorded in the office of the county recording officer prior to the start of construction.

f. Any development restriction shall be expressly enforceable by the municipality and the State of New Jersey and, if authorized by municipal ordinance, another public agency or non-profit conservation organization.

g. An ordinance authorizing the planning board to approve planned developments, subdivisions or site plans that allows for contiguous cluster or noncontiguous cluster may provide for:

(1) the assignment of bonus density or intensity of use, including, but not limited to, increased units, floor area ratio, height, or impervious cover in order to realize the preservation of agricultural lands, open space, and historic sites or otherwise advance the purposes of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.);

(2) the conveyance of land that is subject to a preservation restriction to a separate person or entity.

h. An ordinance authorizing the planning board to approve planned developments, subdivisions or site plans that allows for contiguous cluster may authorize the owners of contiguous properties to jointly submit an application for development.

i. An ordinance authorizing the planning board to approve planned developments, subdivisions or site plans that allows for noncontiguous cluster:

(1) shall not authorize use of the development transfer provisions set forth in the "State Transfer of Development Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.2 (C.40:55D-137 et seq.);

(2) may provide that areas to be developed are developed in phases, provided that the terms and conditions intended to protect the interests of the public and of the residents, occupants and owners of the proposed development in the total completion of the development are adequate;

(3) shall provide that any noncontiguous cluster program is optional.

L.2013, c.106, s.9.