Farmland Permanently Preserved with aid from South Jersey Land and Water Trust

On June 30, 2022, the County of Gloucester, with assistance from SJLWT, made settlement on the Anthony and Lauren McAlister farm in Franklin Township. This 68+/- acre property is directly across the street from the Dave and Lynn McAlister farm, which SJLWT also helped to preserve last year. The County of Gloucester holds the easement on the newly preserved McAlister property, and is responsible for future monitoring to ensure it continues to operate within the parameters of the Farmland Preservation Program.

SJLWT played a significant role in helping the County to preserve the new McAlister farm, as SJLWT Land Program Manager Ken Atkinson coordinated the initial meetings with the landowners, prepared and compiled the Farmland Preservation application for the parcel, and assisted the County Office of Land Preservation with securing all required and necessary municipal actions.

The preservation of this farm creates a contiguous area of 400+/- acres of permanently preserved farmland, with an additional 200+/- acres of preserved farmland also in a close linear distance. SJLWT is also currently working on the active applications for 7 other farms in Franklin Township, with the potential to add an additional 300+/- acres to the Township’s preserved farmland inventory, which currently stands at more than 3,200 acres.