[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.
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.