County Adds 80.5 Farm Acres To Inventory for $2.1 Million

CREST HAVEN — The process of preserving farmland took another step Jan. 27 as freeholders approved the purchase of development rights on 80.49 acres for $2,066,505 on three farms. Two of those are in Upper Township and one is in Lower Township.
Lower Township
In Lower Township, the county Agriculture Development Board approved purchase of development easements Nov. 24, 2014 on property owned by Nancy T. Phillips (Nancy T. McPherson) in Block 752.01, Lot 10.01, at 1036 Seashore Road, which consists of 19.299 acres.
The State Agriculture Development Committee certified a fair market value of $31,300 per acre for the property. The resolution noted that the county has the discretion to buy the easement at a higher price, provided that price does not exceed the highest appraised development easement value established by independent appraisers.
The county wished to offer $35,000 per acre, a value the owner agreed to accept or $675,465.
Title Company of Jersey handled the title insurance and closing services for the parcel.
Upper Township
In Upper Township, at 3023 Route 9, Seaville, 31.19 acres owned by Theresa Bauer, the owner agreed to accept $21,500 per acre, or $670,585 for development rights.
Also in that municipality, at 3065 Route 9, Seaville, 30 acres owned by Curtis and Elizabeth Corson, the owner agreed to accept the county’s offer of $24,000 per acre, or $720,000 for development rights.
Stewart Title Company handled the title insurance and closing services for both Upper Township parcels.
“Development Easement”
Landowners who want to continue farming their land can sell their development rights, also known as development easements. When landowners sell development easements, they still own their land but sell the rights to develop it for anything other than agriculture. They agree to permanent deed restrictions that allow only agricultural use. Those deed restrictions remain in force for any future owners, according to the Open Space and Farmland Preservation website.
Prior to the above purchases, the website stated the county had purchased 59 farmand development easements totaling 3,150 acres for about $34 million.