§ 40:55D-118 — Designation of sending, receiving zones

The municipality shall, in view of the information gathered from the report and plans prepared pursuant to section 5 of this act, prepare a development transfer ordinance that designates sending and receiving zones. a. In creating and establishing sending and receiving zones, the governing body of the municipality shall designate tracts of land of such size and number as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this act. b. All land in a sending zone shall have one or more of the following characteristics: (1) substantially undeveloped or unimproved farmland, woodland, floodplain, wetlands, endangered species habitat, aquifer recharge area, recreation or park land, waterfront, or steeply sloped land; (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 local or regional plans. c. Lands permanently restricted through development 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. d. The receiving zone shall be appropriate and suitable for development and shall be at least sufficient to accommodate at all times all of the development potential of the sending zone. e. The development potential of the receiving zone shall be determined by the governing body of the municipality utilizing the report and plans prepared pursuant to section 5 of this act; be realistically achievable in a functioning market as of the date of the adoption of the development transfer ordinance; provide for a minimum of twice the development permitted in the receiving zone as of the date of the adoption of the development transfer ordinance; and be consistent with the criteria established pursuant to subsection b. of section 8 of this act. No density increases may be achieved in a receiving zone without the use of appropriate instruments of transfer. f. The municipal governing body shall, pursuant to the ordinance, direct the municipal planning board to carry out the development transfer program. L.1989,c.86,s.6.