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 ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
