Cherry Hill, Evesham/Marlton, Medford, Medford Lakes, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees and elsewhere near the iconic state highways of Routes 70 and 73.
A special Cherry Hill agricultural zoning law that has applied only to the Township-owned Holly Ravine Farm would be extended to other farmland as a path to preserving the land, according to an ordinance that will be considered by Township Council Monday evening.
A total of 248 acres would be covered, including Springdale Farm, Springhouse Farm, McNaughton's Garden Center and 200 Evans Lane, according to the proposed ordinance, which is to be introduced on first reading with a public hearing and second reading, or final decision, before Council at its March 10 meeting.
Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher speaks at an informational session in July 2024 about the acquisition and plans for Holly Ravine Farm.
"This ordinance formalizes the existing agriculture and horticulture uses of these properties and will enable the property owners to apply for farmland preservation funding in the future,” Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher said in a statement.
Fleisher said that without the Agriculture-Horticulture Commercial overlay the land would not be eligible for state or county farmland preservation funding. Existing zoning rules for the land are not affected by the overlay.
As Council president and then as mayor, Fleisher has been a proponent to preserve land in the 24-square-mile Township, which is the most populous in South Jersey.
Under Fleisher, the Township in 2022 adopted a strict tree preservation law that requires saving trees in a new development or directing the developer to make a payment to the Township tree fund so trees can be planted elsewhere in town.
A year ago, the Township bought the 23-acre Holly Ravine Farm near Springdale and Evesham roads that would have been turned into a senior housing complex.
Brian Bauerle, the former Council member and the mayor's chief of staff, told 70and73.com that the Township had spoken with each of the owners of the farmland that would be covered by the new ordinance.
Last week, the Cherry Hill Planning Board approved the Township 2025 Open Space and Recreation Plan, a detailed inventory of the existing 1,392 acres protected and preserved, and a shopping list of other sites to potentially protect.
