July 27, 2006 Meeting Highlights

Chair’s Report
The Farm Aid 2006 concert will be held September 30th at the Tweeter Center in Camden.

Executive Director’s Report
The SADC exceeded its $80 million expenditure goal for FY2006, spending $86.8 million from GSPT funds and an additional $3 million from other funds.

The process review committee met to review and comment on the draft streamlining rule proposal, which is expected to go to the Committee for consideration in September.

SADC staff has begun assembling past policies and other information in anticipation of developing a housing policy for the Committee’s consideration.

A Preservation Funding Forum was held on July 17th to begin the process of identifying future funding once Garden State Preservation Trust funding expires. The state agencies overseeing preservation efforts offered status reports on their programs, and farmers, environmentalists and other attending stakeholders had the opportunity to offer suggestions on potential funding sources and how to move forward. An internal administration working group is scheduled to meet August 7th to begin to consider future funding, including recommendations generated by the forum.

Soil and Water Conservation Funding
Appropriation bills awaiting the Governor’s signature include approximately $341,000 for soil and water conservation funding, which the SADC was able to identify from interest earnings from previous bond funds. That amount is sufficient to fund 16 new requests that went unfunded at the SADC’s March meeting, as well as 10 new projects approved by the State Soil Conservation Committee at its May meeting. The SADC granted approval of these projects at a 50 percent cost-share level, which was agreed to by all of the landowners. (Approvals are subject to signature of the legislation.) Approval of these projects once again zeroes out the balance of soil and water conservation grant funding. Secretary Kuperus and the SADC are continuing to work to identify additional sources of funding for these projects.

Commercial Nonagricultural Use Rules
The SADC voted to introduce rules that provide for commercial nonagricultural activities to occur, and personal wireless service facilities to be erected, on preserved farmland under certain circumstances. Farms must meet the definition of a commercial farm under the Right to Farm Act to qualify for a special permit for either a commercial nonagricultural use or cell tower. To qualify for a commercial nonagricultural use, a farm must have been preserved prior to January 12, 2006, with no land excepted from the deed of easement at time of preservation. Any landowner of a preserved farm is eligible to apply for a special permit for a cell phone tower, regardless of when the farm was preserved and whether land was excepted from the deed of easement. The rules will be published in the New Jersey Register and undergo a 60-day public comment period before the SADC considers them for adoption.

Atlantic County
The SADC approved soil and water grants for Donato Associates, Inc., Buena Borough; Paul Macrie, Jr. and Joan Macrie, Hamilton; Erick R. and Erick M. Hensel, Buena Vista; Loretta Ingemi, Hammonton; Anthony and Mary Melora, Hammonton and Winslow-Camden; James and Nancy Quarella, Buena Borough; Columbia Fruit Farm, Inc., Hammonton; Russell Clark, Hammonton; David and Loretta Ingemi, Hammonton; Pleasantdale Farms, Hammonton and Mullica; Atlantic Blueberry, LLC, Hamilton; and Trust of Francis Rizzottte, Mullica and Hammonton.

The SADC approved a request to construct a single-family residence on the Collison Farm in Galloway Township.

Burlington County
The SADC approved soil and water conservation grants for Connie and Marilyn Anderson, Springfield; Gregory Lebak, Chesterfield, and William E. and Betty H. Garrison, Springfield.
Final approval under the fee simple program was granted to the Erb Estate in North Hanover, Chesterfield and Springfield.

Cumberland County
The SADC approved soil and water conservation grant funding for Robert E. Jr. and Maryanne E. Fralinger, Hopewell.

Gloucester County
The SADC approved soil and water conservation grant funding for Joseph and Maria Angela Calabro, South Harrison Township, and amended approval for William C. Horner, Woolwich Township, to reflect an additional 7 acres of eligibility and to correct the expiration date of the eight-year program.

Hunterdon County
The SADC approved an amendment to the planning incentive grant project area for the Delaware Township-Sandbrook Headquarters District to include the Glasshoff Farm on the target list of farms.

Final approval under the fee simple program was granted to the Segreaves farm, Alexandria Township. Final approvals under the planning incentive grant program were given to the Dugger Farm, Delaware Township, and the Hockenbury Farm, Raritan Township. Final approvals under the direct easement purchase program were granted to the Modica farm, Bethlehem Township, and the Walker farm, Delaware Township. The SADC authorized continued negotiations with owners of the Balogh farm, Holland Township; Gyuro-Seltzer farm, Union Township; Tucker farm, Lebanon Township; and Vernon farm, Tewksbury Township. All of these farms qualified as “alternate” farms under the direct easement purchase program and are potentially eligible for special Highlands preservation funding.

Mercer County
The SADC approved two soil and water conservation grants for David Meirs, III, East Windsor, Millstone and Washington townships.

The SADC approved Hopewell Township’s request to place a 2,500-square-foot size limitation on the residence associated with the residual dwelling site opportunity on the Hopewell Township/Martin farm.

Middlesex County
The SADC approved soil and water conservation grant funding for HRD Farms, LLC, Cranbury.

Monmouth County
The SADC approved soil and water conservation grant funding for Arthur and Mona Giambrone, Howell Township.

Final approvals under the planning incentive grant program were given to the Tullo Farm in Howell Township and the Moccia and Schultz Farm in Manalapan Township.

Morris County
The SADC authorized continued negotiations with the owner of the Turnquist farm, Washington Township. This farm qualified as an “alternate” farm under the direct easement purchase program and is potentially eligible for special Highlands preservation funding.

Ocean County
Final approval under the direct easement purchase program was granted to the Frankel farm, Plumsted.

Salem County
The SADC approved soil and water conservation grant funding for Myerlyn Farm and C. Glynn Myers and Elaine C. Myers, Upper Pittsgrove; Glendon and Elizabeth Coleman, Alloway; Kim W. Hitchner, Upper Pittsgrove; and William N. Brooks, Jr., Upper Pittsgrove.

Final approval under the direct easement purchase program was granted to the DiGregorio farm, Pilesgrove Township.

Sussex County
The SADC certified designation of agricultural development areas for lands owned by Rachel Perrone-Scro and Steven Scro, Sparta Township; Lawrence and Judith Harte, Stillwater Township; Gary Caton, Wantage Township; Larry Caton, Wantage Township; and Phyllis and Kenneth Harm, Wantage Township.

An agricultural labor housing request was approved for the Fairclough Farm, Hampton Township.

Warren County
The SADC approved soil and water conservation grant funding for Bradley A. Burke, Hope Township.

Final approvals under the fee simple program were granted to the Jayne/Stocker farm, Pohatcong, Greenwich and Alpha, and the Trust for Public Lands/Eagle Valley farm, Mansfield Township.

Amended final approval was granted to the Washington Township/AJR farm to provide that either the SADC or County of Warren will hold the deed of easement.

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