Within the A Agricultural Zoning District tracts of land 40 acres or greater in size either at the time of the adoption of this chapter or that are assembled after the adoption of this chapter and tracts of land 30 acres or greater in size either at the time of the adoption of this chapter or that assembled after the adoption of this chapter and located adjacent to land which has either been deed restricted for farmland or open space preservation or is currently being farmed and qualifies under the Farmland Assessment Act[1] may elect to shall develop as one-and-one-half-acre lot open-space clusters. Tracts of land 30 acres or greater in size but less than 40 acres, either at the time of the adoption of this chapter or that are assembled after the adoption of this chapter, and not located adjacent to land which has either been deed restricted for farmland or open space preservation or is currently being farmed and qualifies under the Farmland Assessment Act may elect to develop as one-and-one-half-acre lot open-space clusters. Agricultural open space clusters shall meet the following conditions:
A.
Land area equal to a minimum of 50% of the total tract of land proposed for development shall not be included in lots, but shall be set aside and deed restricted for farmland preservation, conservation, or open space and recreation. To meet this requirement, not less than 20% of required 50% shall be located on site. A developer may use the transfer of the development rights of lands off site from the development for the following specific type of lands or a combination thereof which achieves the remainder of the total required 50% set-aside. Up to 35% of the required set-aside noted hereinabove may be met by the developer by purchasing the development rights of farmland or up to half of the required amount, 25%, by purchasing the development rights for environmentally sensitive lands at any location within the Township, provided that such land is shown on the adopted Township Master Plan as being proposed for preservation or conservation as farmland or environmentally sensitive lands. Regardless of how the set-aside is met as provided hereinabove, all other provisions of this section shall be met. In the case of agricultural preservation lands, development rights shall be deeded to the Township of Deerfield. In the case of said development rights for conservation purposes, said lands shall be maintained and protected for the stated purpose by specific binding agreements between the applicant and the Township of Deerfield. It is the intention of this provision to require that the transfer of developments for both on site and off site regardless of the purpose for which the land is intended to be used shall be done by deed instrument to permanently record the said transfer and shall further specifically provide that said transfer was done to meet the requirements set forth in this section to permit the planned development to occur.
B.
Land utilized for street rights-of-way, driveways, parking areas, courtyards, utility stations, and loading areas shall not be included as part of the above-referenced 50%. If an agricultural buffer is required to be established as per § 120-71G, said buffer area may be included in the minimum set-aside of 50% required herein. No portion of the land to be set aside for farmland preservation and not considered to environmentally sensitive shall be of a size, shape, and width to make it feasible for its continued use for general farming.
C.
Whenever an agricultural cluster option is required or chosen then land to be dedicated for either farmland preservation or for conservation due to environmental sensitivity shall be located within the proposed development to maximize its utility or suitability for its intended purpose. Land to be set aside for farmland preservation should be located adjacent to other farmland and sensitive lands, to the extent practical, adjacent to other environmentally sensitive lands as shown on the adopted Township Master Plan. The Land Use Board shall review the design of the development to assure that this requirement is met to the greatest extent possible with the aim of attempting to form meaningful and useful clusters of specific types of land preservation. Open space or recreational lands required shall comply with the provisions of § 120-119E.
D.
The location of proposed lots, streets, utilities and active recreational areas shall likewise as provided in Subsection C above, also be adjacent to other similar developed areas to the greatest extent possible thereby maximizing the clustering of development in the area. Proposed development layout or design shall be found to meet this requirement as a condition of attaining approval.
F.
At least 15% of the total open space saved shall used for one or more of the active recreational purposes including, but not limited to, swimming pool and cabana club, tennis, badminton, volleyball and basketball courts, playing fields, other active recreational areas and/or facilities, and private landscaped areas under the supervision of a homeowners' association.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 54:4-23.1 et seq.