New NJ law encourages nonprofits, associations to help transform
vacant lots into edible gardens
Local Property Tax Urban Gardens — P.L. 2011, c.35,
signed into law on March 1, 2011, and effective immediately, encourages nonprofit corporations and associations to help transform vacant
properties located in older urban areas into gardens for growing fresh
fruits and vegetables. Existing provisions of law authorize municipalities
and counties to lease or sell public property not needed for a public
use to nonprofit entities for them to perform specified laudatory public
purposes thereon. This law affects lands in cities of the first, second,
third, and fourth classes. The cultivation and sale of fresh fruits and vegetables is now among the purposes for which municipalities may lease or sell public land for nominal consideration. Previously, the law allowed for the long-term lease of excess public land, but not the sale thereof, to nonprofits for gardening purposes. Now, the transformation of excess vacant public lands into urban farms is a public purpose and the law affords these lands exemptions from property taxation.
http://www.state.nj.us/
from: http://www.psgcoop.org/