[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Mercer County as Ch. 2.18 of the 2003 Mercer County Code (Ord. No. 83-13). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Pursuant to P.L. 2020, c. 67, effective 1-1-2021, the Code of Mercer County has been amended to delete the term “Board of Chosen Freeholders” and replace it with the term “Board of County Commissioners.” In addition, the terms “Freeholder” and “Chosen Freeholder” have been deleted and replaced by the term “County Commissioner.”]
There is created the Mercer County Agricultural Development Board.
A. 
The Board shall develop and adopt, after public hearings, an agricultural retention and development program, which shall have its principal purposes the long-term encouragement of the agricultural business climate and the preservation of the agricultural land in the County.
B. 
The agricultural and development program and all actions taken pursuant thereto shall be compatible with the County Master Plan, as adopted and amended, the State Development Guide Plan, as adopted and amended, and decisions of the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding the housing opportunity obligations of municipalities.
The Agricultural Development Board shall have the primary responsibility for:
A. 
Administering the County's agricultural preservation program;
B. 
Mediating right to farm disputes within the County;
C. 
Serving as the County's liaison with the State Agriculture Development Committee;
D. 
Advising and assisting municipalities on matters dealing with agriculture and farmland preservation and encouraging the creation of advisory committees within those municipalities;
E. 
Advising and assisting the County Planning Board on matters relating to agriculture;
F. 
Advising and assisting landowners on the donation of easements;
G. 
Informing the public of the details of the County's agricultural preservation program;
H. 
Selecting and recommending specific land to the governing body for acquisition or other action related to agricultural preservation;
I. 
Such other duties as may be required by the Agricultural Retention and Development Act, N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq.
J. 
Advising and assisting the County Executive on matters relating to agriculture.
[Amended by Ord. No. 94-1]
A. 
The Mercer County Agricultural Development Board shall consist of 10 members who shall be appointed by the County Executive with the advice and consent of the Board of County Commissioners. The members shall include:
(1) 
Three nonvoting members:
(a) 
One being a representative of the County Planning Board;
(b) 
One being a representative of the local Soil Conservation District; and
(c) 
One being a County agent of the New Jersey Cooperative Extension Service whose jurisdiction encompasses Mercer County.
(2) 
Seven voting members who must be residents of Mercer County:
(a) 
Four of whom shall be actively engaged in farming, the majority of whom shall own a portion of the land they farm; and
(b) 
Three of who shall represent the general public.
B. 
Initial appointment terms for voting members shall be as follows:
(1) 
Three shall be appointed for terms of two years;
(2) 
Two for terms of three years;
(3) 
Two for terms of four years.
C. 
All appointments shall be made for terms of four years.
A vacancy in the membership occurring other than through expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.
The Board shall meet as soon as practical following the appointment of its members and shall elect a Chairman from among its members and establish procedures for the conduct of regular and special meetings in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
A. 
No action of the Mercer County Agricultural Development Board shall be binding upon the Mercer County Board of Commissioners unless and until such action has been duly approved by the Mercer County Board of Commissioners.
B. 
No recommendation by the Mercer County Agricultural Development Board for the acquisition of development rights shall create a financial obligation on the part of the Mercer County governing body unless and until that body has approved the creation of a financial obligation in the manner provided by law.
The Agricultural Development Board shall report at least annually to the Mercer County Board of Commissioners as to the state of farmland development and retention within the County and as to the progress made by the Development Board in pursuit of the goal of maintaining and developing the same.