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PIG BT FAQs
Q:
How does a farm become eligible for preservation?
A:
Land qualifying for farmland tax assessment under the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964 and is located within the Bernards Township PIG Project Area, is eligible.
Q:
Why should landowners consider preserving their farms?
A:
Past experience has shown that farm owners are motivated to preserve their farms for a variety of reasons, including securing capital to expand their existing agricultural operation, eliminating or reducing debt load and estate and retirement planning.
Q:
What is a development easement?
A:
A development easement is an interest in farmland, which represents the owner's right to develop for non-agricultural purposes. When this interest is sold, the landowner voluntarily agrees to place restrictions on the farmland, retaining it for agricultural use and prohibiting non-agricultural development. The restrictions are recorded as a deed of easement and run with the land forever.
Q:
Do preserved farms receive any special benefits and protections from governmental actions?
A:
Participants in preservation programs enjoy limited protection from:
governmental exercise of eminent domain for the acquisition of land on which a development easement has been purchased or donated;
governmental disbursement of grants or loans for the construction of dwellings, commercial facilities, transportation facilities, or water and sewer facilities to serve non- farm structures; public and private nuisance actions; and emergency restrictions on the use of water and energy supplies.
In addition, participating landowners are eligible for cost-sharing grants for soil and water conservation projects.
Q:
Can a participant in the farmland preservation program sell the property?
A:
Yes. The deed restrictions run with the land, regardless of the owner of record. Future owners of preserved farms would also be required to abide by the deed restrictions.
Q:
Does the public have a right to access preserved farms?
A:
The public has no right to access or use deed-restricted farms without the owner's consent.
Q:
Who should a landowner interested in participating in the program contact?
A:
Interested landowners should contact the Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee’s Secretary, Suzanne Hooper, at 908-204-3076
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11/15/2018
7:00 PM
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
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