Adam,
In an age of -isms ...I'll add a new one Jerseyism ...I'm not sure why
Burlington County NJ Freeholders would be too concerned about what
residents of Pennsylvania think.
Jan
Jan Zientek, County Extension Department Head
Urban Gardening Program Coordinator (973) 353-5525 voice
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (973) 353-1430 fax
162 Washington St.
Newark, NJ 07102
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Friends:
The key paragraph and opportunity is at the end of the article: One scenario
would have the board sell the deed-restricted farm at an auction. Another
would bring a farm stand featuring local products. Officials have also
discussed
a community-gardening center or some other form of agricultural public
education.
Looks like some Pennsylvania community gardeners should get in touch with the
Burlington County Board of Freeholders and give them some guidance.
Everbest,
Adam Honigman
Volunteer,
Clinton Community Garden
County OKs $7.14 million to purchase 68-acre farm
By JOHN REITMEYER
Burlington County Times
MOUNT HOLLY - The Burlington County Board of Freeholders yesterday approved
an agreement with farmer Robert Winner to purchase a dairy farm on the
Moorestown-Mount Laurel border for $7.14 million.
The agreement, ratified by board members at a special afternoon meeting, will
result in the permanent preservation of the 68-acre property at Centerton and
Hartford roads.
Winner did not attend the freeholder meeting, but spoke about the agreement
during a telephone interview later in the day. He has been negotiating with
the
freeholders for about 15 months, since an earlier agreement with a developer
for an office complex fell through.
I'm really pleased that we all could get to this point, Winner said. It's
exciting.
Under the terms of the agreement, Winner will receive compensation in
installments, as well as some cash right away. The deal calls for the
Moores]town
council to cover 20 percent of the purchase price, with the balance coming
out of
a county land-preservation trust fund that is supported by a dedicated tax of
4 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
The freeholders will also seek to recoup up to 50 percent of the purchase
price from the state's farmland preservation program. The farm's price tag
averages about $104,500 for each acre.
The board is planning to place easements on the farm, which covers 48 acres
in Moorestown and 20 acres in Mount Laurel, to bar any future development. The
freeholders, however, haven't decided exactly what to do with the farm and an
1800s farmhouse on the property.
One scenario would have the board sell the deed-restricted farm at an
auction. Another would bring a farm stand featuring local products. Officials
have
also discussed a community-gardening center or some other form of agricultural
public education.
The key is the preservation of the property and the retention of some of
Moorestown's agricultural heritage, said Freeholder William Haines Jr., a
berry
farmer who oversees the county's land-preservation initiatives.
Bob Winner is to be commended for his commitment to preserve this valuable
real estate for the public's benefit, Haines said. As I have said in the
past, this is one area that seems to have gotten more than its share of
development.
The freeholders voted 4-0 to approve the agreement with Winner after a nearly
60-minute discussion with a group of Moorestown residents who attended the
meeting. Four of the residents spoke against the purchase, saying the town's
taxes have become too high for commercial-development opportunities to be
bypassed. Another commended the board for recognizing the environmental value
of the
farm.
The freeholders had initially tried to approve the deal during a public
meeting last week, but never held a vote because of some last minute tax
concerns
that they said were ultimately resolved.
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
November 30, 2004 8:21 AM
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