Bernards Township, NJ Farmland Preservation Resolution

Bernards Township, NJ, US

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Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 1/11/05

Source File: http://www.bernards.org/Agricultural%20Advisory%20Committee/Document/050070.htm

Text:

Resolution #050070
Authorizing Submission of Planning Incentive Grant (Pig) Application to the State Agriculture Development Committee Requesting Farmland Preservation Funding and Documenting Municipal Commitment and Support for Development Easement Acquisition and Farmland Preservation in The Bernards Township Pig Project Area

WHEREAS, the Township Committee of the Township of Bernards has responded to the the recommendations of the Bernards Township Master Plan to preserve farmland in the Township of Bernards and supports the goal and objective of preserving farmland and retaining the Township’s agricultural land base; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee appointed the Bernards Township Agricultural Task Force in 2004 comprised of local farmers and residents to investigate the feasibility of farmland preservation in the Township of Bernards;

WHEREAS, the Bernards Township Agricultural Task Force prepared a report that was delivered to the Township Committee on December 28, 2004, which recommends the establishment of a local farmland preservation program, identifies the Township’s agricultural base and properties appropriate for farmland preservation; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee supports and is committed to the goal of farmland preservation in the Township of Bernards; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee has adopted a local right-to-farm ordinance to demonstrate the local commitment to farmland preservation and the continuation of agriculture in Bernards Township; and

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Township Committee’s commitment to farmland preservation the Committee created the Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee comprised of 5 regular members plus 2 alternate members, of which a majority of the regular members are actively engaged in farming on their own land, to oversee and provide guidance to the Township Committee on farmland preservation and issues affecting the continuation of agriculture in the Township; and

WHEREAS, the Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee has recommended that the Bernards Township Committee identify a local funding commitment of $11,000,000 (eleven million dollars) to acquire development easements to preserve farmland in the Bernards Township PIG Project Area (shown on the attached map) as the local share of funding to acquire development easements in conjunction with State Agricultural Advisory Committee (SADC) Planning Incentive Grant Funding and in accordance with the SADC and Somerset County cost share funding formulas; and

WHEREAS, the Township of Bernards accepts the Agricultural Advisory Committee’s recommendation to allocate $11,000,000 as Bernards Township’s local share of funding for farmland preservation in the Bernards PIG Project Area; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee of the Township of Bernards believes that farmland preservation will provide important benefits to Township residents and all residents in the State of New Jersey;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Bernards, that the Committee hereby authorizes submission of a Planning Incentive Grant Application to the State Agriculture Development Committee for funding to preserve farmland in the Bernards Township PIG Project Area; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Bernards that there is hereby committed not less than $11,000,000 from the Township’s Open Space Tax revenue that is to be allocated toward development easement purchase for farmland preservation to be used in conjunction with State Agriculture Development Committee Planning Incentive Grant Farmland Preservation Funding, should the Township be successful in obtaining funding from the SADC for farmland preservation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Bernards, that the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to sign the grant application on behalf of the Township.