13:8A-23 - Guidelines in acquisition of lands and making grants

13:8A-23.  Guidelines in acquisition of lands and making grants
    In acquiring lands and making grants to assist local units to acquire lands  the commissioner shall:

    a.  Seek to achieve a reasonable balance among all areas of the State in consideration of the relative adequacy of area recreation and conservation facilities at the time and the relative anticipated future needs for additional  recreation and conservation facilities;

    b.  Insofar as practicable, limit acquisition to predominantly open and natural land and to minimize the cost of acquisition and the subsequent expense  necessary to render land suitable for recreation and conservation purposes;

    c.  Wherever possible, select land for acquisition which is suitable for multiple recreation and conservation purposes;

    d.  Give due consideration to coordination with the plans of other departments of State Government with respect to land use or acquisition;

    e.  Acquisition of lands actively devoted to agriculture shall be avoided whenever possible and in lieu thereof, whenever feasible, development rights, conservation easements and other interests less than a fee simple shall be acquired.

     L.1971, c. 419, s. 5, eff. Jan. 24, 1972.