The Legislature finds and declares that, pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1979, c. 111 (C. 13:18A-1 et seq.), the comprehensive management plan for the pinelands area has been adopted and is now being implemented; that this plan includes a program for the allocation and transfer of pinelands development credits; and that the intent of the pinelands development credit program is to provide a mechanism to facilitate both the preservation of the resources of this area and the accommodation of regional growth influences in an orderly fashion.
The Legislature further finds and declares that the concept of transferable development credits is innovative and, as yet, unprecedented on a regional scale; that in order to realize the full measure of the benefits of such a program, steps must be taken to assure the marketability of these credits; and that the best means of providing this assurance is through the establishment of a Pinelands Development Credit Bank empowered to purchase and sell pinelands development credits and to guarantee loans secured thereby, all as hereinafter provided.