How collaboration is saving 835 wooded, pristine acres near Black Run Preserve from future development.

Plans to develop some of the 835 acres of the Samost family property into housing may be halted by a deal involving Burlington County, Evesham Township and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation to forever protect the open space in Evesham.

Environmentalists, hikers and nature lovers had feared the impact that a proposed development of 270 homes next to Kettle Run Road south of the Black Run Preserve would have on the area.

The state Pinelands Commission in closed session on October 31 approved a $3 million grant to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation to help preserve the land from development, Paul Leakan, the commission's communications officer, confirmed on Wednesday after 70and73.com questioned the commission about the meeting.

Also on Wednesday, Burlington County Commissioners voted to authorize a cost-share partnership with Evesham in collaboration with the Foundation to save the Samost property as open space. The county resolution authorizes up to $5 million in open space funds for the purchase.

Robyn Jeney, the Foundation's South Jersey regional manager who is involved in negotiations for the land, on Thursday told 70and73.com that years of working with the landowners to purchase and preserve the land is expected to be final in the next couple of months.

Early negotiations for the property were for 774 acres, but the landowners this year added extra property, taking the total to 835, she said.

If added to the Black Run Preserve as planned, the combination would be a pristine 2,135 acres with trails for hiking.

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Behind the negotiations to save from development the Evesham woodland south of Black Run Preserve.

Efforts to preserve: Drone shows the untouched beauty of the area around the Black Run Preserve in Evesham.

In June, 70and73.com reported that Voorhees-based Devel LLC wanted to begin the housing development by seeking a Certificate of Filing from the Pinelands Commission, which was reviewing Devel's application. The property is owned by Kettle Run Investments LLC, which lists a post office box in West Berlin.

Each LLC is owned by members of the Samost family, with Linda Samost and lawyer Stephen Samost listed as owners. 

"Burlington County values our natural environment and it’s become more important than ever to preserve our green open spaces for current and future generations,” Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson said in a statement Wednesday evening. "Preserving the Samost property will protect an important water source and critical habitat for Pinelands plants and animals. It will expand Evesham’s Black Run Preserve and provide additional opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy passive outdoor recreation in the Pines."

"Evesham leaders strongly support preserving the land and say the town has offered to take responsibility for cleanup and stewardship of the property," according to the county announcement. "The township already maintains the adjacent 1,300-acre Black Run Preserve. Acquisition of the Samost property will create a preserve of over 2,000 contiguous acres, one of the single largest parcels of locally preserved open space in Burlington County."

Previous reporting by 70and73.com on the development:

Deforestation: Voorhees developer wants to build on wooded land next to Evesham's Black Run Preserve.

Residents plead at hearing: Keep future development out of the land around Evesham's Black Run Preserve.