New Jersey Agriculture Retention and Development Program

DEED OF EASEMENT

STATE OF NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURE RETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This Deed is made , 20 .

BETWEEN ,

Whose address is and is referred to as the Grantor; AND , Whose address is and is referred to as the Grantee and/or Board.

The Grantor, Grantor's heirs, executors, administrators, personal or legal representatives, successors and assigns grants and conveys to the Grantee a development easement and all of the nonagricultural development rights and credits on the Premises, located in the of County of described in the attached Schedule A, and, for the limited purpose of the restrictions contained in Paragraph 13(b), in Schedule C, incorporated by reference in this Deed of Easement, for and in consideration of the sum of Dollars. Any reference in this Deed of Easement to "Premises" refers to the property described in Schedule A, and, for the limited purpose of the restrictions contained in Paragraph 13(b) in Schedule C.

The tax map reference for the Premises is: of Block(s) Lot(s) .

WHEREAS, the legislature of the State of New Jersey has declared that the development of agriculture and the retention of farmlands are important to the present and future economy of the State and the welfare of the citizens of the State; and

WHEREAS, the Grantor is the sole and exclusive owner of the Premises; and

WHEREAS, the Grantee believes that the retention and preservation of agricultural lands is beneficial to the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of County;

NOW THEREFORE, THE GRANTOR, GRANTOR'S HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, PERSONAL OR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS PROMISES that the Premises will be owned, used and conveyed subject to, and not in violation of the following restrictions:

1. Any development of the Premises for nonagricultural purposes is expressly prohibited.

2. The Premises shall be retained for agricultural use and production in compliance with N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq., P.L. 1983, c.32, and all other rules promulgated by the State Agriculture Development Committee, (hereinafter Committee). Agricultural use shall mean the use of the Premises for common farmsite activities including, but not limited to: production, harvesting, storage, grading, packaging, processing and the wholesale and retail marketing of crops, plants, animals and other related commodities and the use and application of techniques and methods of soil preparation and management, fertilization, weed, disease and pest control, disposal of farm waste, irrigation, drainage and water management and grazing.

3. Grantor certifies that at the time of the application to sell the development easement to the Grantee and at the time of the execution of this Deed of Easement the nonagricultural uses indicated on attached Schedule (B) existed on the Premises. All other nonagricultural uses are prohibited except as expressly provided in this Deed of Easement.

4. All nonagricultural uses, if any, existing on the Premises at the time of the landowner's application to the Grantee as set forth in Section 3 above may be continued and any structure may be restored or repaired in the event of partial destruction thereof, subject to the following:

i. No new structures or the expansion of pre-existing structures for nonagricultural use are permitted;

ii. No change in the pre-existing nonagricultural use is permitted;

iii. No expansion of the pre-existing nonagricultural use is permitted; and

iv. In the event that the Grantor abandons the pre-existing nonagricultural use, the right of the Grantor to continue the use is extinguished.

5. No sand, gravel, loam, rock, or other minerals shall be deposited on or removed from the Premises excepting only those materials required for the agricultural purpose for which the land is being used.

6. No dumping or placing of trash or waste material shall be permitted on the Premises unless expressly recommended by the Committee as an agricultural management practice.

7. No activity shall be permitted on the Premises which would be detrimental to drainage, flood control, water conservation, erosion control, or soil conservation, nor shall any other activity be permitted which would be detrimental to the continued agricultural use of the Premises.

i. Grantor shall obtain within one year of the date of this Deed of Easement, a farm conservation plan approved by the local soil conservation district.

ii. Grantor's long-term objectives shall conform with the provisions of the farm conservation plan.

8. Grantee and Committee and their agents shall be permitted access to, and to enter upon, the Premises at all reasonable times, but solely for the purpose of inspection in order to enforce and assure compliance with the terms and conditions of this Deed of Easement. Grantee agrees to give Grantor, at least 24 hours advance notice of its intention to enter the Premises, and further, to limit such times of entry to the daylight hours on regular business days of the week.

9. Grantor may use the Premises to derive income from certain recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, cross country skiing and ecological tours, only if such activities do not interfere with the actual use of the land for agricultural production and that the activities only utilize the Premises in its existing condition. Other recreational activities from which income is derived and which alter the Premises, such as golf courses and athletic fields, are prohibited.

10. Nothing shall be construed to convey a right to the public of access to or use of the Premises except as stated in this Deed of Easement or as otherwise provided by law.

11. Nothing shall impose upon the Grantor any duty to maintain the Premises in any particular state, or condition, except as provided for in this Deed of Easement.

12. Nothing in this Deed of Easement shall be deemed to restrict the right of Grantor, to maintain all roads and trails existing upon the Premises as of the date of this Deed of Easement. Grantor shall be permitted to construct, improve or reconstruct any roadway necessary to service crops, bogs, agricultural buildings, or reservoirs as may be necessary.

13(a). At the time of this conveyance, Grantor has existing single family residential buildings on the Premises and residential buildings used for agricultural labor purposes. Grantor may use, maintain, and improve existing buildings on the Premises subject to the following conditions:

i. Improvements to agricultural buildings shall be consistent with agricultural uses;

ii. Improvements to residential buildings shall be consistent with agricultural or single and extended family residential uses. Improvements to residential buildings for the purpose of housing agricultural labor are permitted only if the housed agricultural labor is employed on the Premises; and

iii. Improvements to recreational buildings shall be consistent with agricultural or recreational uses.

13(b). Grantor, their heirs, executors, administrators, personal or legal representatives, successors and assigns may use and maintain the Residential Exclusion Area, as described in the attached Schedule C, subject to the following conditions:

a. The Exception Area cannot be severed, subdivided, sold, transferred or conveyed separately from the premises.

b. The Exception Area is restricted to one single or extended family residence containing no more than square feet of livable area, plus ancillary uses, all consistent with municipal zoning. Grantor and Grantee agree that square feet of livable area identified in this paragraph as greater than 4000 square feet represents the amount of livable area of an existing residence.

c. Grantor, grantor’s heirs, executers, administrators, personal or legal representative, successors and assigns or any person residing on or occupying the Exception Area are hereby notified and made aware that the Exception Area is adjacent to a parcel (“Premises”) permanently deed restricted under the Agricultural and Development Retention Act, N.J.S.A. 4:C-11 et seq. Such persons residing on or occupying the Exception Area are notified and made aware that agriculture is the accepted and preferred use of the adjacent Premises and that the adjacent Premises shall continue in agricultural use as defined in Section 2 of this Deed of Easement.

14. Grantor may construct any new buildings for agricultural purposes. The construction of any new buildings for residential use, regardless of its purpose, shall be prohibited except as follows:

i. To provide structures for housing of agricultural labor employed on the Premises but only with the approval of the Grantee and the Committee. If Grantee and the Committee grant approval for the construction of agricultural labor housing, such housing shall not be used as a residence for Grantor, Grantor's spouse, Grantor's parents, Grantor's lineal descendants, adopted or natural, Grantor’s spouse’s parents, Grantor's spouse's lineal descendants, adopted or natural;

ii. To construct a single family residential building anywhere on the Premises in order to replace any single family residential building in existence at the time of conveyance of this Deed of Easement but only with the approval of the Grantee and Committee. The replacement building may not exceed the restriction imposed in paragraph 13(a).

iii. No residual dwelling site opportunities have been allocated pursuant to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 2:76-6.17. No residential buildings are permitted on the Premises except as provided in this Deed of Easement. For the purpose of this Deed of Easement: "Residual dwelling site opportunity" means the potential to construct a residential unit and other appurtenant structures on the Premises in accordance with N.J.A.C. 2:76-6.17.

15. The land and its buildings which are affected may be sold collectively or individually for continued agricultural use as defined in Section 2 of this Deed of Easement. However, no division of the land shall be permitted without the joint approval in writing of the Grantee and the Committee. In order for the Grantor to receive approval, the Grantee and Committee must find that the division shall be for an agricultural purpose and result in agriculturally viable parcels. Division means any division of the Premises, for any purpose, subsequent to the effective date of this Deed of Easement.

i. For purposes of this Deed of Easement, "Agriculturally viable parcel" means that each parcel is capable of sustaining a variety of agricultural operations that yield a reasonable economic return under normal conditions, solely from each parcel's agricultural output.

16. In the event of any violation of the terms and conditions of this Deed of Easement, Grantee or the Committee may institute, in the name of the State of New Jersey, any proceedings to enforce these terms and conditions including the institution of suit to enjoin such violations and to require restoration of the Premises to its prior condition. Grantee or the Committee do not waive or forfeit the right to take any other legal action necessary to insure compliance with the terms, conditions, and purpose of this Deed of Easement by a prior failure to act.

17. This Deed of Easement imposes no obligation or restriction on the Grantor's use of the Premises except as specifically set forth in this Deed of Easement.

18. This Deed of Easement is binding upon the Grantor, the Grantor's heirs, executors, administrators, personal or legal representatives, successors and assigns and the Grantee; it shall be construed as a restriction running with the land and shall be binding upon any person to whom title to the Premises is transferred as well as upon the heirs, executors, administrators, personal or legal representatives, successors, and assigns of all such persons.

19. Throughout this Deed of Easement, the singular shall include the plural, and the masculine shall include the feminine, unless the text indicates otherwise.

20. The word 'Grantor' shall mean any and all persons who lawfully succeed to the rights and responsibilities of the Grantor, including but not limited to the Grantor's heirs, executors, administrators, personal or legal representatives, successors and assigns.

21. Wherever in this Deed of Easement any party shall be designated or referred to by name or general reference, such designation shall have the same effect as if the words, heirs, executors, administrators, personal or legal representatives, successors and assigns have been inserted after each and every designation.

22. Grantor, Grantor's heirs, executors, administrators, personal or legal representatives, successors and assigns further transfers and conveys to Grantee all of the nonagricultural development rights and development credits appurtenant to the lands and Premises described herein. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the conveyance or retention of said rights by the Grantee as may be permitted by the laws of the State of New Jersey in the future. In the event that the law permits the conveyance of said development rights, Grantee agrees to reimburse the Committee percent of the value of the development rights as determined at the time of the subsequent conveyance.

23. That portion of the net proceeds, representing the value of the land only (and not the value of the improvements), of a condemnation award or other disposition of the Premises following termination of this Deed of Easement, as permitted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq., P.L. 1983, c.32, shall be distributed among the Grantor and the Grantee in shares in proportion to the fair market value of their interests in the Premises on the date of execution of this Deed of Easement. For this purpose, the Grantee's allocable share of the proceeds shall be the net proceeds multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the fair market value of the development easement as certified by the Committee at the time of the initial acquisition and the denominator of which is the full fair market value of the unrestricted Premises as certified by the Committee at the time of the initial acquisition, which is identified as / .

Furthermore, the Grantee's proceeds shall be distributed among the Grantee and the Committee in shares in proportion to their respective cost share grants on the date of execution of this Deed of Easement. The Grantee shall use its share of the proceeds in a manner consistent with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq., P.L. 1983, c.32.

24. No historic building or structure located on the Premises may be demolished by the grantor or any other person without the prior approval of the State Agriculture Development Committee. Historic building or structure is a building or structure that, as of the date of this Deed of Easement, has been included in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:1B-15.128 et seq.

The Grantor signs this Deed of Easement as of the date of the top of the first page. If the Grantor is a corporation, this Deed of Easement is signed and attested to by its proper corporate officers, and its corporate seal, if any, is affixed.

(INDIVIDUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT)

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, COUNTY OF SS:

I CERTIFY that on , 20 , personally came before me and acknowledged under oath, to my satisfaction, this that person (or if more than one, each person):

(a) is named in and personally signed this DEED OF EASEMENT;

(b) signed, sealed and delivered this DEED OF EASEMENT as his or her act and deed;

(c) made this DEED OF EASEMENT for and in consideration of mutual obligations and benefits to each party; and

(d) the actual and true consideration paid for this instrument is $ .

(COUNTY OF )

THE UNDERSIGNED, being the County Executive of County, on behalf of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of , hereby accepts and approves the foregoing restrictions, benefits and covenants as authorized by Freeholder Resolution No. , dated .

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED this day of , 20 .

, County Executive Date

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, COUNTY OF SS.:

I CERTIFY that on , 20 , personally came before me and acknowledged under oath, to my satisfaction, that this person:

(a) is named in and personally signed this DEED OF EASEMENT,

(b) signed, sealed and delivered this DEED OF EASEMENT as the County's act and deed, and

(c) is the County Executive of County.

, Clerk of the County Board of Chosen Freeholders

(CORPORATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT)

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, COUNTY OF SS.:

I CERTIFY that on , 20 , the subscriber , personally appeared before me, who, being by me duly sworn on his or her oath, deposes and makes proof to my satisfaction, that he or she is the Secretary of , the Corporation named in the within Instrument; that is the President of said Corporation; that the execution, as well as the making of this Instrument, has been duly authorized by a proper resolution of the Board of Directors of the said Corporation, that deponent well knows the corporate seal of said Corporation; and that the seal affixed to said Instrument is the proper corporate seal and was thereto affixed and said Instrument signed and delivered by said President as and for the voluntary act and deed of said Corporation, in presence of deponent, who thereupon subscribed his or her name thereto as attesting witness; and that the full and actual consideration paid to purchase a development easement as evidenced by the DEED OF EASEMENT is $ and the mutual obligations and benefits contained herein.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the date aforesaid

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(COUNTY AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT BOARD)

THE UNDERSIGNED, being Chairperson of the County Agriculture Development Board, hereby accepts and approves the foregoing restrictions, benefits and covenants.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED this day of , 20 .

Chairperson, County Agriculture Development Board STATE OF NEW JERSEY, COUNTY OF SS.:

I CERTIFY that on , 20 personally came before me and acknowledged under oath, to my satisfaction that this person: (a) is named in and personally signed this DEED OF EASEMENT, (b) signed, sealed and delivered this DEED OF EASEMENT as the Board's act and deed; and (c) is the Chairperson of the County Agriculture Development Board.

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(STATE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE)

The State Agriculture Development Committee has approved the purchase of the development easement on the Premises pursuant to the Agriculture Retention and Development Act, N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq., P.L. 1983, c.32, and has authorized a grant of % of the purchase price of the development easement to the County of in the amount of $ .

, Executive Director Date

State Agriculture Development Committee

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, COUNTY OF SS.:

I CERTIFY that on , 20 , personally came before me and acknowledged under oath, to my satisfaction, that this person:

(a) is named in and personally signed this DEED OF EASEMENT,

(b) signed, sealed and delivered this DEED OF EASEMENT as the Committee's act and deed, and

(c) is the Executive Director of the State Agriculture Development Committee.

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