Burlington County Freeholders approve ten farms for preservation

Freeholder Mary Ann O’Brien has announced that the Burlington County Freeholders have agreed to preserve 10 additional farms as part of the County’s Farmland Preservation Program. The move will add nearly 752 acres to what the county has already preserved under the program.

“Burlington County continues to demonstrate our commitment to open space and farmland preservation, solidifying our status as a state and national leader in this area,” O’Brien said.

Officially, the Freeholder Board has authorized staff to make offers to the owners of the ten farms. The offers will be based on upcoming appraisals of the properties and the values must be certified by the State.

Nine of the approved farms, totaling 700 acres, lie within the five mile military buffer zone of Joint Base MDL and are therefore eligible for 50 percent funding from the US Department of Defense pursuant to a 2012 Cooperative Agreement.

“We are proud to work with the US Department of Defense to protect the land surrounding Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,” O’Brien said. “By choosing to preserve these farms, the County can ensure that the land is being used in a way that best supports the mission of Joint Base MDL. This is always an important consideration during BRAC proceedings.”

The Burlington County portion of these purchases will be funded through the dedicated farmland and open space fund, approved by voters. The same fund is utilized for open space acquisition, Burlington County park maintenance, and municipal recreation grants.

The farms, listed by owner, location, acreage, and current production/use are as follows:

— Fenimore, Pemberton Township, 74 acres, Grain

— Alloway North, Southampton Township, 118 acres, Grain/Sod

— Alloway South, Southampton Township, 46 acres, Grain/Sod

— Harold & Gail Kirby, Pemberton Township, 56 acres, Grain

— Eleanor Kirby, Pemberton Township, 50 acres, Grain

— Linda Hatt, Chesterfield Township, 69 acres, Equine/Hay

— M&N Farms, Chesterfield Township, 38 acres, Hay

— Lanwin Development Corp, Chesterfield Township, 132 acres, Grain

— Thompson South, LLC, Chesterfield Township, 136 acres, Grain

— Patel, LLC, Springfield Township, 33 acres, Grain

Additional information regarding the County’s Farmland Preservation Program can be found online at www.co.burlington.nj.us/196/Farmland-Preservation.