22. The council shall provide legal representation to any requesting local government unit located in the Highlands Region in any cause of action filed against the local government unit and contesting an act or decision of the local government unit taken or made under authority granted pursuant to the “Municipal Land Use Law,” P.L.1975, c.291 (C. 40:55D-1 et seq.), R.S.40:27-1 et seq., the “State Uniform Construction Code Act,” P.L.1975, c.217 (C. 52:27D-119 et seq.), or this act, provided that:

a. the municipal master plan and development regulations, or, in the case of a county governmental entity, the county master plan and associated regulations, have been approved by the council to be in conformance with the regional master plan in accordance with section 14 or 15 of this act;

b. the council determines that the act or decision of the local government unit which is the subject of the cause of action is consistent with the regional master plan; and

c. the act or decision of the local government unit that is the subject of the cause of action involves an application for development that provides for the ultimate disturbance of two acres or more of land or a cumulative increase in impervious surface by one acre or more.

L.2004,c.120,s.22.