Push To Preserve Cherry Hill's Remaining Farmland Moves Forward

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill came a step closer this week to preserving some of the township's remaining farmland.

On Monday, the Township Council voted to introduce an ordinance that would place Springdale Farm and other properties into Cherry Hill's Agricultural-Horticultural Commercial (AHC) Overlay Zone. The zone was designed to help preserve farmland by permitting commercial agriculture on the lands it encompasses.

Currently, only Holly Ravine Farm is in the AHC.

The proposed ordinance would add 248 acres of land into the zone, including Springdale Farm, McNaughton's Garden Center and 200 Evans Ln.

A public hearing on the ordinance and a vote to adopt it are scheduled for March 10's council meeting.

"This is all consistent with our ongoing commitment to preserve open space," said Mayor David Fleisher, "and, in this case, further encourage agricultural use, memorialize it where it's occurring and potentially open up opportunities for landowners who are participating in agricultural activities to be able to capitalize on potential funding sources."

Cherry Hill was largely agricultural until after World War II, when suburbanization began taking root in the township. Much of that farmland is gone, but local efforts have helped preserve some of the remaining land in recent years.

Two years ago, grassroots efforts helped prevent a developer's purchase of Holly Ravine Farm. That led to the township purchasing the land to preserve it as open space.

Placing lands in the AHC doesn't change their current zoning regulations. But it incentivizes commercial farming, while making property owners eligible for farmland-preservation funds from the state and county, officials said.

"It encourages and preserves farming for the township," said Council Member Daniel V. DiRenzo, Jr. "I think that could be nothing but beneficial."

View the ordinance here.