CRANBURY, N.J. – A 175-year-old family farm in Middlesex County will stay in the hands of its longtime owners after a deal brokered by state officials ended months of tension over possible eminent domain action.
Governor Phil Murphy announced Thursday that the Henry Family Farm on South River Road will remain under family ownership following an agreement between the Henry family, Cranbury Township, and Fair Share Housing.
The arrangement ensures the farm’s preservation while allowing township officials to pursue other sites to meet affordable housing requirements.
Key Points
- Henry Family Farm in Cranbury spared from eminent domain after new agreement
- Governor Murphy praises collaboration between family, township, and housing advocates
- Rule revision by state housing agency expected to allow more flexible development options
Longtime farm at center of land-use dispute
The Henry Family Farm, a fixture of Cranbury’s agricultural landscape since the mid-1800s, became the focus of a heated debate after local leaders considered seizing it to meet state housing mandates. Governor Murphy said he had opposed those efforts from the start, calling for “thoughtful and collaborative” solutions that would not compromise historic farmland.
The new agreement, reached with help from state and federal officials, effectively shields the property from development pressures that have reshaped other parts of central New Jersey.
Rule change could reshape affordable housing process
The resolution hinges on a forthcoming change to a New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency rule expected by year’s end. The revision would permit more flexibility for municipalities to develop affordable housing projects without encroaching on preserved farmland.
Murphy credited Agriculture Secretary Ed Wengryn, Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez, and HMFA Executive Director Melanie Walter for helping mediate the settlement. Federal officials including U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and HUD Secretary Scott Turner also assisted in finalizing the deal.