3. a. Whenever a governmental entity acquires land to be preserved for recreation and conservation purposes, and the deed for the land includes any covenant authorizing the owner of the land and other landowners whose deeds include the same covenant to form an association or other common interest community for a common purpose, which may or may not also authorize dues, fees, or other obligations to be charged or imposed in connection therewith, the covenant shall be void in all respects and unenforceable with regard to the land acquired by the governmental entity, provided that the governmental entity:

(1) acquires the land before any such association or other common interest community has been formed or after the dissolution or discontinuation of any previously existing association or other common interest community; and

(2) owns land preserved for recreation and conservation purposes that is contiguous to the land acquired, or the contiguous land is owned by another governmental entity for such purposes.

b. Nothing in subsection a. of this section shall be construed to prohibit an association or other common interest community in existence at the time of acquisition of land by a governmental entity that will preserve the land for recreation and conservation purposes, from voluntarily and permanently exempting the governmental entity, or otherwise releasing the land, from operation or enforcement of a covenant like that described in subsection a. of this section, including but not limited to, any requirement therein to pay dues or other fees or comply with any other obligation.

c. Whenever a governmental entity acquires land in the manner described in this act, the governmental entity shall not permit public access to, or use of, the subject of the covenant, such as, for example: (1) a private road that leads to or passes by the acquired land, or (2) a private lake.

L.2019, c.174, s.3.