County commissioners have given preliminary approval for three new farms to enter Burlington’s farmland preservation program.
The commissioners’ vote last month was unanimous and paves the way for preliminary applications regarding three properties with a total of 310 acres. Through the program, the county will seek appraisals to purchase development rights for the farms and have them deed restricted to remain in agriculture. Farmers will continue to own the land.
The preliminary approvals are:
- The Durr Farm in North Hanover, a 98-acre property that grows flowers and produce
- The Roohr Farm in Southampton, a 58-acre property to grow hay and grains
- The Russo Farm in Tabernacle, a 154-acre acre property whose products are assorted fruits and vegetables
All three properties are eligible for state funding to cover as much as 60% of preservation costs. The Durr and Roohr farms are also eligible for federal funding from the U.S. Department of Defense because they’ve within a 5-mile buffer zone around Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The zone helps to minimize security issues and limits development and land-use conflicts near the base.
“All three of these properties have long histories in farming and contribute to our county’s tradition as one of New Jersey’s top agriculture producers,” said Commissioner Allison Eckel, liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation.
“Preserving them will keep these lands in agriculture forever and prevent developers from grabbing important parts of our county landscape,” she added. “It’s the right thing to do for our farmers and for our residents’ quality of life.”
