As used in this subchapter, the following words and terms
shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
"Board" means a county agriculture development board
established pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
4:1C-14 or a subregional agricultural
retention board established pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
4:1C-17.
"Committee" means the State Agriculture Development Committee
established pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
4:1C-4.
"Development easement" means an interest in land, less than
fee simple title thereto, which interest represents the right to develop that
land for all nonagricultural purposes and which interest may be transferred
under laws authorizing the transfer of development potential.
"Farmland" means land identified as having prime or unique
soils as classified by the Natural Resource Conservation Service in the United
States Department of Agriculture, having soils of Statewide importance
according to criteria adopted by the State Soil Conservation Committee,
established pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
4:24-3, or having soils of local importance
as identified by local soil conservation districts, and which land qualifies
for differential property taxation pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of
1964," P.L. 1964, c.48 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-23.1 et
seq.), and any other land on the farm that is necessary to accommodate farm
practices as determined by the State Agriculture Development Committee.
"Farmland preservation," "farmland preservation purposes" or
"preservation of farmland" means the permanent preservation of farmland to
support agricultural or horticultural production as the first priority use of
that land.
"120-day commitment letter" means a document prepared by the
committee and signed by the landowner and committee that requires the landowner
to refrain from entering into any option agreement, contract of sale, or any
other agreement affecting title to the subject farm for a period of 120 days
during which time the Committee shall hire two independent appraisers to
appraise the subject farm.
"Quality score" means the Committee's numeric total derived
from the application of the criteria for evaluating a development easement
application contained in
N.J.A.C.
2:76-6.1 6.