[Adopted 6-10-2009 by Ord. No. 0-09-05]
There is hereby established within the Township of South Harrison
an Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC), which will serve as an advisory
committee to the Land Use Board and the Township Committee on matters
of interest to the farming community. The Township has established
that the benefits to society and the community which accrue as a result
of home and commercial farming, including supplying present and future
generations with the bounty of the farm, and the preservation of the
rural countryside far outweigh the detriments. The establishment of
an Agricultural Advisory Committee will ensure an open line of communication
between the farming community and the Planning Board and Township
Committee.
A.
The Township Committee of South Harrison Township finds that the
needs and concerns of farmland owners and operators within the community
are important and must be understood by Township officials and residents.
In order to protect and maintain the beneficial character of agriculture
to South Harrison, farmland preservation planning must be complemented
by establishing, protecting and maintaining within the region a positive
business climate for agriculture. The interest of farmers in making
reasonable economic use of their farms, whether preserved or not,
must be taken into consideration when South Harrison considers new
or revised land use plans, policies and ordinances.
B.
The purposes of the Agricultural Advisory Committee shall be:
(1)
To represent the needs and concerns of farmland owners and operators
within the community and facilitate communication and understanding
among Township officials, residents and the agricultural community.
(2)
To encourage the growth, expansion and retention of existing agricultural
businesses and farms in the Township and to encourage farmers to continue
to engage in their trade.
(3)
To attract new agriculture-related businesses, commerce and industry
to locate or relocate in the Township.
(4)
To partially meet eligibility requirements for planning incentive
grants administered by the State Agriculture Development Committee
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 2:76-17
(5)
To serve as a channel for communication between the farming community
and the local government relating to agriculture and farming practices,
planning for the future of farmland and agriculture, considering plans
and regulations impacting on the farming community and regarding development
projects and issues.
(6)
To ensure that the municipal Right-to-Farm Ordinance[1] is consistent with the State Model Right-to-Farm Ordinance
and that other municipal ordinances and development regulations reinforce
that farmers operating under generally accepted agricultural practices
are not a nuisance to the community.
A.
Membership. The South Harrison Agricultural Advisory Committee shall
be composed of five members and two alternate members, who are residents
of South Harrison Township. The members shall be appointed by the
Mayor with the advice and consent of the Township Committee, and shall
not be an elected public official. One member may also be a member
of the Planning/Zoning Board. A majority of the AAC members must be
actively engaged in farming and derive their primary income from farming
and own at least a portion of the land they farm. All members shall
be residents of the Township and shall serve without compensation.
One of the Committee members will also serve as a Township liaison
to the Gloucester County Agricultural Development Board (CADB).
B.
Term of Office. Members shall be appointed by the Mayor and the Township
Committee. Appointments for the initial committee shall be one one-year
term, two two-year terms and two three-year terms. Thereafter, each
appointed member shall serve a term of three years. Members shall
choose a Chair, who shall serve as liaison between the Committee and
the Township Committee and Planning Board. The Chair, or a designee,
shall keep notes of the meeting, which shall be deemed to be the property
of the Township and shall be submitted to the Planning Board, Township
Committee and the County Agriculture Development Board (CADB) within
30 days of the meeting. The Chair shall serve as the spokesperson
for the AAC in discussions with the Township Committee and Planning
Board.
C.
Resignation. Any member desiring to resign from the Committee shall
submit a resignation in writing to the Township Clerk, who shall present
the resignation to the Township Committee for acceptance.
D.
Removal from Office. Upon three consecutive unexcused absences of
a member or upon an affirmative vote of a super majority of the Township
Committee, and upon recommendation by the other members of the AAC,
the Township Committee may remove a member and appoint a replacement.
A.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee shall meet on no fewer than three
occasions per year, and more if necessary, and shall report to the
Planning Board and Township Committee at least once per year to report
on the year's activities and important issues. The report may
also include recommendations.
B.
The AAC shall assist the Planning Board and Township Committee by
providing information about developments or changes in the farming
community.
C.
The AAC will assist the Planning Board and Township Committee by
reviewing proposed ordinances or regulations for impacts upon the
farming community, including all ordinances affecting land use in
the Agricultural Development Area (ADA). This may include recommending
growth management strategies.
D.
The AAC will assist, through consultation, the Planning Board in
the preparation of a Comprehensive Municipal Farmland Preservation
Plan element of the Master Plan pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28b(13)
and/or an agriculture retention plan in accordance with the guidelines
provided by the State Agriculture Development Committee. The plan
shall include the following sections at a minimum, but will follow
the SADC's guide.
(1)
An inventory of farm properties in the entire municipality and a
map illustrating what the community considers significant areas of
agricultural land;
(2)
A detailed statement showing that municipal plans and ordinances
support and promote agriculture as a business;
(3)
A plan for preserving as much farmland as possible in the short term
by leveraging monies made available by the Garden State Preservation
Trust Act N.J.S.A. 13:8C-1 et seq. or other farmland preservation
funding programs through a variety of mechanisms outlined in N.J.A.C.
2:76-17.6 (a)3;
(4)
A statement of farming trends characterizing the types of agricultural
production in South Harrison; and
(5)
A discussion of plans to enhance the agricultural industry in South
Harrison.
E.
The AAC will assist the Planning Board and the Township Committee
in reviewing proposed adjustments and amendments to the Farmland Preservation
and/or Agricultural Retention Master Plan Element and the list of
farms to be included and targeted in the easement purchase acquisition
program.
F.
To provide educational opportunities for residents to learn about
the history of farming in South Harrison, ways to support the local
farming community, and how to become involved in the agricultural
industry.
G.
To review and recommend any changes to the Agricultural Development
Area (ADA) to the Planning Board and CADB.
