State of New Jersey, State Agriculture Development Committee, County of Hunterdon and Township of Franklin, and V…

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the Appellate Division and reinstated the trial court’s summary‑judgment ruling that Quaker Valley Farms violated the deed of easement and the Agriculture Retention and Development Act by permanently destroying prime soil. The Court also affirmed the dismissal of Quaker Valley’s New Jersey Civil Rights Act claim and held that compliance with a C.251 storm‑water plan did not satisfy the deed’s soil‑conservation requirement. The decision emphasized that the lack of agency‑issued guidelines does not excuse clear violations of the deed’s soil‑conservation provision.