[Ord. No. 99-1 § 1]
a.
The retention of agricultural activities would serve the best interest
of all citizens of the Township by insuring the numerous social, economic
and environmental benefits which accrue from one of the largest industries
in the Garden State;
b.
Several factors have combined to create a situation wherein the regulations
of various State agencies and the ordinances of individual municipalities
may unnecessarily constrain essential farm practices;
c.
It is the express intention of this chapter to establish as the policy
of this Township the protection of commercial farm operations from
nuisance actions, where recognized methods and techniques of agricultural
production are applied, while, at the same time, acknowledging the
need to provide a proper balance among the varied and sometimes conflicting
interests of all lawful activities in the Township.
[Ord. No. 99-1 § 2]
As used in this chapter:
Shall mean any place producing agricultural or horticultural
products worth $2,500 or more annually.
[Ord. No. 99-1 § 3]
The owner or operator of a commercial farm which meets the eligibility
criteria for differential property taxation pursuant to the "Farmland
Assessment Act of 1964", P.L. 1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.) and
the operation of which conforms to agricultural management practices
recommended by the State Agriculture Development Committee and to
all relevant Federal, State, or municipal statutes, ordinances, rules
and regulations and which does not pose a direct threat to public
health and safety may:
a.
Produce agricultural and horticultural crops, trees and forest products,
livestock, and poultry and other commodities as described in the Standard
Industrial Classification for agriculture, forestry, fishing and trapping;
b.
Process and package the agricultural output of the commercial farm;
c.
Provide for the wholesale and retail marketing of the agricultural
output of the commercial farm and related products that contribute
to farm income, including the construction of building and parking
areas in conformance with municipal land use and site plan ordinances;
d.
Replenish soil nutrients;
e.
Control pests, predators and diseases of plants and animals;
f.
Clear woodlands using open burning and other techniques, install
and maintain vegetative and terrain alterations and other physical
facilities for water and soil conservation and surface water control
in wetland areas; and
g.
Conduct on-site disposal of organic agricultural wastes.
