Cranbury approves Eight-Year Farmland Preservation
By:Sarah Winkelman
An alternative to traditional open space and farmland preservation programs is coming to Cranbury.
The Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance Monday that would enter a 20.25-acre parcel owned by Henry Realty Co. LLC on South River Road into a municipally approved Eight-Year Farmland Preservation program.
The program is available through the state Agriculture Development Committee as an alternative to its other farmland preservation program. The caveats of the program are that the owner agrees to voluntarily restrict nonagricultural development for eight years.
SADC spokeswoman Hope Gruzlovic said to qualify for the program the land must be located in an Agricultural Development area, be eligible for Farmland Assessment and meet local and county program criteria. It also must remain actively farmed during the time it is enrolled in the program.
The owner can withdraw from the agreement only under extenuating circumstances such as illness or death. Withdrawal must be approved by the county agriculture board and the municipality. If the owner wishes to sell the property during the agreement, the SADC can choose whether or not to buy the property.
Mayor Richard Stannard said the township is not spending any money on the property.
"This is a freebie," he said. "No funds from the township coffers are going towards this preservation."
Committeeman Michael Mayes said what happens to the land after eight years has yet to be determined, but he said the program is entirely beneficial.
"The program is perfect for landowners who are not ready to fully commit to permanent farmland preservation and takes the land off the market for eight years," he said. "The farmers agree to preserve the land and in return they receive certain benefits."
At the end of the eight years the owner can apply for another eight years of preservation or permanently enter into farmland preservation.
Some of the benefits to the program include eligibility for SADC grants for funding up to 50 percent of the cost of approved soil and water conservation projects. The landowners also have greater protections from nuisance complaints, emergency fuel and water rationing, zoning changes and eminent domain proceedings.