The properties were preserved through Franklin Township’s Municipal Farmland Preservation Program which is a cooperative effort including Franklin Township, the State Agriculture Development Committee, and the County of Gloucester and our own Agricultural Advisory Committee. The preservation was overseen by South Jersey Land and Water Trust (SJLWT), that serves as the facilitator for Franklin Township’s Municipal Farmland Preservation Program.
At 51.206 acres, the Bellone farm is utilized primarily for the growing of nursery stock. The Bellone family has owned and farmed the property for decades. The farm is just one part of their overall agriculture operations, which encompass more 400 acres in Franklin Township. The preserved property is contiguous to the 31-acre preserved Philip Danko property, which the Bellones also farm as part of their agriculture business. The Danko farm was preserved in October of this year.
The LaRose property is an 18.040 acre equine farm used primarily for breeding, boarding, training and rehabilitation. The Laroses have indicated that they also plan to begin growing organic produce on the property in the near future. They have worked and lived on the farm since 2004, and became full owners in 2022. This property is also close to more than 250 additional acres of preserved farmland.
In addition to the organizations listed above, the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners, helped to provide funding for the acquisition of the property’s development rights. The Gloucester County Office Land Preservation also provided a great deal of technical support throughout the preservation process. The County of Gloucester holds the easement on the property, and is responsible for future monitoring to ensure it continues to operate within the parameters of the Farmland Preservation Program.
To date approximately 3,381 farmland acres and 2,012 acres of open space have been preserved in Franklin Township, with 937+/- acres being preserved directly through Franklin Township’s Municipal Farmland Preservation Program.
Mayor Bruno commended our farmland preservation committee members and the South Jersey Land Trust for their never-ending work. He also reiterated that farmland preservation is still one of this administration’s priorities to benefit the residents of Franklin Township He continues to emphasize the many methods used to preserve farmland and open space, while balancing the need for fiscal responsibility and resident services. He also thanked the Bellones and LaRoses for their desire to help Franklin Township maintain our rural character.
