40:55D-144 Characteristics of sending zone.
8. a. A sending zone shall be composed predominantly of land having one or more of the following characteristics:
(1) agricultural land, woodland, floodplain, wetlands, threatened or endangered species habitat, aquifer recharge area, recreation or park land, waterfront, steeply sloped land or other lands on which development activities are restricted or precluded by duly enacted local laws or ordinances or by laws or regulations adopted by federal or State agencies;
(2) land substantially improved or developed in a manner so as to present a unique and distinctive aesthetic, architectural, or historical point of interest in the municipality;
(3) other improved or unimproved areas that should remain at low densities for reasons of inadequate transportation, sewerage or other infrastructure, or for such other reasons as may be necessary to implement the State Development and Redevelopment Plan adopted pursuant to P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et al.) and local or regional plans.
b. Notwithstanding subsection a. of this section, lands permanently restricted through development easements or conservation easements existing prior to the adoption of a development transfer ordinance may be included in a sending zone upon a finding by the municipal governing body that this inclusion is in the public interest.
c. The development transfer ordinance may assign bonus development potential to specified properties in the sending zone based on specified criteria in order to encourage the permanent protection of those lands pursuant to the development transfer ordinance.
L.2004,c.2,s.8.