A 21-acre New Jersey farm that has been in the same family since 1850 is at odds with a township seeking to seize it by eminent domain to meet affordable housing goals.
“Many towns have been required to build a certain number of affordable housing, and this town — Cranbury Township — has to build about 265 affordable housing units,” said Timothy Duggan, an eminent domain attorney who represents brothers Andrew and Christopher Henry, owners of the property.
kAmkDA2?mt>:?6?E 5@>2:? =2HD 2==@H =@42=[ DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?ED E@ 4@?56>? 2?5 7@C467F==J AFC492D6 AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ 566>65 E@ D6CG6 E96 8C62E6C AF3=:4 8@@5 — EJA:42==J 7@C AC@;64ED DF49 2D C@25 2?5 FE:=:EJ :>AC@G6>6?ED 2?5 3F:=5:?8 D49@@=D — 2E 72:C\>2C<6E G2=F6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m}6H y6CD6J’D 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 >2?52E6 DE6>D 7C@> E96 |@F?E {2FC6= s@4EC:?6 6DE23=:D965 d_ J62CD 28@ C6BF:C:?8 >F?:4:A2=:E:6D E@ 4C62E6 2 “72:C D92C6” @7 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp?5C6H w6?CJ D2:5 96 H2D EC2G6=:?8 H96? 9:D H:76 :?7@C>65 9:> E96J 925 C646:G65 2 =6EE6C 7C@> 2 =2HJ6C C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 E@H?D9:A]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“q2D:42==J H92E 😀 D2:5 H2Di ‘(6’G6 :56?E:7:65 J@FC AC@A6CEJ 7@C 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[ 2?5 H6’5 =:<6 J@F E@ 28C66 @? 2 AC:46] x7 J@F 5@?’E[ H6’== A=2? @? E2<:?8 :E 3J 6>:?6?E 5@>2:?]’”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mw6?CJ 2?5 9:D 3C@E96C ?@H =:G6 😕 }6H |6I:4@ 2?5 =62D6 E96 AC@A6CEJ E@ 2 72C>6C H9@ C2:D6D =:G6DE@4< 2?5 8C@HD 92J]k^DA2?mk^Am
Andrew Henry stands in front of the farmhouse rebuilt by his great-grandparents with help from neighbors in 1880 after it was destroyed by a fire.
kAmkDA2?m%96J H2?E E@ <66A E96 AC@A6CEJ 😕 28C:4F=EFC6 2?5 A2DD :E @? E@ 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D] w6?CJ D2:5 E92E @G6C E96 J62CD E96J 92G6 EFC?65 5@H? @776CD E92E 92G6 6D42=2E65 :?E@ E96 k^DA2?mE6?D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD[ >@DE=J 7C@> H2C69@FD6 56G6=@A6CD] %96 AC@A6CEJ D:ED 92=7 2 >:=6 7C@> }6H y6CD6J %FC?A:<6 6I:E gp]k^Am
kAmkDA2?mw6 D2:5 E96 72>:=J 925 ?6G6C D@F89E 72C>=2?5 AC6D6CG2E:@? 3642FD6 E96J 7:8FC65 E96J 4@F=5 ;FDE D2J ?@ E@ 56G6=@A6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x ?6G6C E9@F89E E96 E@H? >:89E 36 =@@<:?8 E@ E2<6 @FC AC@A6CEJ[” w6?CJ D2:5] “%92E >:89E 92G6 366? 2 =:EE=6 ?2:G6[ x DFAA@D6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQ 2=:8?lQ46?E6CQmkDA2?m!24<65 !C@4665:?8Dk^DA2?mk^9bm
kAmkDA2?mrC2?3FCJ %@H?D9:A @77:4:2=D 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E[ C676C6?4:?8 :?DE625 2 *@F%F36 G:56@ @7 2 |2J `a E@H?D9:A 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8 2E H9:49 E96 7:G6 >6>36CD G@E65 F?2?:>@FD=J E@ 2AAC@G6 2? @C5:?2?46 E@ E2<6 E96 =2?5 G:2 6>:?6?E 5@>2:?[ 7@==@H:?8 >@C6 E92? 2? 9@FC @7 AF3=:4 4@>>6?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp7E6C C625:?8 >@C6 E92? c__ AC6G:@FD 4@>>6?ED @? D@4:2= >65:2[ |2J@C {:D2 z?:6C:> 255C6DD65 H92E D96 D2:5 H6C6 4@>>@? 4C:E:BF6D @7 E96 AC@A@D2=[ :?4=F5:?8 E92E E96 A=2? H2D CFD965]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp77@C523=6 9@FD:?8 4C:E6C:2 92D 492?865 @G6C E96 c_ J62CD E96 E@H?D9:A 92D 366? C6BF:C65 E@ >66E DE2E6 >2?52E6D[ D96 D2:5] #@F?5 7@FC H2D 2??@F?465 😕 |2C49 a_ac [ D96 D2:5[ 2?5 E96 E@H?D9:A 8@E 3FDJ E@ >66E 2 DE2E6\D6E 5625=:?6 @7 yF?6 b_[ a_ad]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x A6CD@?2==J 5@?’E 766= E9:D H2D 2 8F?\E@\E96\9625 AC@46DD[” D96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m$E2E6 >2?52E6D :?4=F56 AC@I:>:EJ E@ D6H6C[ H2E6C 2?5 >2DD EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 2?5 2 ad_\7@@E 3F776C K@?6 2C@F?5 H2C69@FD6D[ D96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
Tom O’Donnell raises Scottish Highland (foreground) and Belted Galloway (background) cattle on the 21-acre Henry farm bordered by warehouses and highways.
kAmkDA2?m“%96 =2DE 4C:E6C:2 42>6 @?=J E9C66 >@?E9D 28@ 27E6C H6 925 2=C625J C6G:6H65 2 D:8?:7:42?E ?F>36C @7 AC@A6CE:6D[” E96 >2J@C D2:5] “%2<:?8 :?E@ 4@?D:56C2E:@? E9:D ?6H 4C:E6C:2[ x 9@A6 C6D:56?ED 42? F?56CDE2?5 9@H E96 7F??6= @7 AC@A6CE:6D 3682? 86EE:?8 D>2==6C 2?5 D>2==6C 2?5 D>2==6C]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96 >2J@C E@@< @776?D6 E@ “@FE\@7\D:89E[ @FE @7 >:?5” 4@>>6?ED >256 3J D@>6 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD C682C5:?8 E96 AC@A@D65 =@42E:@? 2?5 D2:5 E96 E@H?D9:A 925 2=C625J >2I65 @FE :ED 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 @AE:@?D H:E9:? E96 9:DE@C:4 5@H?E@H? G:==286]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%@H?D9:A C6D:56?E |:4926= z6CG2? — @?6 @7 23@FE e_ C6D:56?ED 😕 2EE6?52?46 — D2:5 E96 DE2E6 >2?52E6[ 2?5 E96 E@H?D9:A’D :?E6?E:@? E@ >66E :E 3J 7@C467F==J E2<:?8 2 9:DE@C:4 72C>[ H6C6 7=2H65 @? >2?J =6G6=D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“rC2?3FCJ 92D =@?8 FA96=5 E96 @3=:82E:@?D @7 E96 |@F?E {2FC6= s@4EC:?6[ @7E6? 6I4665:?8 H2D C6BF:C65[” 96 D2:5] “(6 ?@H 7246 2? :>A@DD:3=6 56>2?5] (6 92G6 =:EE=6 DF:E23=6 =2?5 =67E[ J6E H6’C6 36:?8 2D<65 3J @77:4:2=D 😕 %C6?E@? E@ 3F:=5 >@C6] tG6? H@CD6[ H6’C6 AC6A2C:?8 E@ :?G@<6 6>:?6?E 5@>2:?[ 2 E@@= E92E 😕 >J G:6H F?56C>:?6D E96 G6CJ AC:?4:A=6D @7 AC@A6CEJ C:89ED E92E H6 9@=5 562C] pC6 H6 C62==J AC6A2C65 E@ E2<6 2 72>:=J’D 72C>=2?5 E92E 92D 366? 😕 E96:C 92?5D 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D E@ >66E 2 DE2E6 C6BF:C6>6?En”k^DA2?mk^Am
Agricultural lands, even preserved farms, are not completely safeguarded from being taken by eminent domain.
k9b DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQ 2=:8?lQ46?E6CQmkDA2?m}@E $F:E23=6 7@C w@FD:?8k^DA2?mk^9bm
kAmkDA2?m%96 >@G6 E@ 3F:=5 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 2E E96 D:E6 @7 E96 `fd\J62C\@=5 72C> 😀 :?4@?8CF@FD H:E9 E96 E@H?D9:A’D >2DE6C A=2?[ sF882? D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“%H@ @7 E96:C 8@2=D 2C6 E@ >2:?E2:? 2D >2?J 72C>D 2D A@DD:3=6 2?5 E@ 3F:=5 2== @7 E96 H2C69@FD6D 😕 2 A2CE @7 E@H? @FE 3J E96 }6H y6CD6J %FC?A:<6[” 96 D2:5] “*@F’C6 AFEE:?8 2== @7 E96 H2C69@FD6D E@86E96C 2?5 2H2J 7C@> E96 9@>6D[ H9:49 😀 8@@5] }@H H96? J@F H2?E E@ 3F:=5 J@FC 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[ J@F’C6 5@:?8 2? 23@FE\7246[ D2J:?8[ ‘~z[ H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 2H2J 2 9:DE@C:4 72C>[ 2?5 H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ AFE E96 =@H\:?4@>6 9@FD:?8 @FE 3J :ED6=7 H96C6 ?@ @?6 42? D66 :E]’”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96 72C> 😀 3@C56C65 3J E96 EFC?A:<6 @?6 D:56[ 2 3FDJ 9:89H2J @? E96 @AA@D:E6 D:56 2?5 7=2?<65 3J H2C69@FD6D[ sF882? D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“%9:D 2C62 😀 ?@E K@?65 7@C 9@FD:?8[” w6?CJ D2:5] “xE’D K@?65 =:89E :?5FDEC:2=[ H2C69@FD6D[ >2J36 @77:46D] $@ 2AA2C6?E=J E96J 92G6 ?@ :DDF6 H:E9 8@:?8 E@ E96 A=2??:?8 3@2C5 2?5 D2J:?8 ‘{6E’D 492?86 E96 >2DE6C A=2? 2?5 H6’== >2<6 E9:D :?E@ 9@FD:?8]’”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mr@?465:?8 96 925 2 G6DE65 :?E6C6DE 😕 >2:?E2:?:?8 9:D 72>:=J’D 72C>[ w6?CJ D2:5 E92E 6G6? 7C@> 2? @FED:56C’D G:6HA@:?E[ E96 E@H?D9:A’D A=2? 😀 7=2H65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“%96J’C6 AFEE:?8 E9:D 9@FD:?8 56G6=@A>6k^DA2?m?E C:89E 😕 E96 >:55=6 @7 2== E96D6 H2C69@FD6D H:E9 ?@ AF3=:4 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? ?62C3J[ H9:49 >2<6D ?@ D6?D6 E@ FD H92ED@6G6C]”k^Am
Threshing in 1927.
k9b DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQ 2=:8?lQ46?E6CQmkDA2?m#6D:=:6?E u2C>:?8 {6824Jk^DA2?mk^9bm
kAmkDA2?mw6?CJ’D 8C62E\8C2?572E96C AFC492D65 E96 AC@A6CEJ 😕 `gd_] w6 A=2?E65 A@E2E@6D[ 2AA=6 EC66D 2?5 8C2:? 4C@AD 3J 92?5[ <6AE 9@CD6D 2?5 2 52:CJ 4@H[ 2?5 3F:=E 2 72C>9@FD6[ H9:49 3FC?65 5@H? 😕 `gfh 5F6 E@ 2 49:>?6J 7:C6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mx?DFC2?46 925 CF? @FE EH@ 52JD AC:@C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“%96J =@DE 2=>@DE 6G6CJE9:?8[” w6?CJ D2:5] “%96J D2G65 D@>6 3FD96=D @7 A@E2E@6D E92E H6C6 😕 E96 32D6>6?E[ D@>6 92>D 2?5 A@C<]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m}6:893@CD C2==:65 E@ 96=A E96>[ 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“p?5 E96 9@FD6 8@E C63F:=E 😕 `gg_] %92E’D E96 9@FD6 E92E’D E9k^DA2?m6C6 E@52J]”k^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96 72>:=J 2=D@ H62E96C65 E96 vC62E s6AC6DD:@? 56DA:E6 w6?CJ’D 8C2?572E96C 5J:?8 😕 `hbe[ 96 D2:5[ =62G:?8 @?=J 9:D 8C2?5>@E96C 2?5 >@E96C E@ CF? E96 72C>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96 w6?CJ 3C@E96CD — H9@ >2<6 7C6BF6?E EC:AD 62DE E@ >2:?E2:? E96 AC@A6CEJ 2?5 72C>9@FD6 E96J 8C6H FA 😕 — E@@< @H?6CD9:A 😕 a_`a 2?5 92G6 =62D65 E96 =2?5 E@ E96 D2>6 72C>6C 7@C 2 564256]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%92E 72C>6C[ %@> ~’s@??6==[ C6D:56D b >:=6D 2H2J 2?5 C2:D6D $4@EE:D9 w:89=2?5 2?5 q6=E65 v2==@H2J 42EE=6 2D H6== 2D D966A @? E96 w6?CJ 72C>[ 2== H:E9@FE 9@C>@?6D[ 2?E:3:@E:4D[ 496>:42= 76CE:=:K6C @C A6DE:4:56D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x 5:5?’E H2?E >J <:5 62E:?8 E92E DEF77[ x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 62E :E[ x 5:5?’E H2?E >J H:76 62E:?8 :E[ D@ H6 DE2CE65 8C@H:?8 @FC @H?[” 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m~’s@??6== D2:5 7@C465 D2=6 @7 E96 72C> E@ E96 E@H?D9:A H@F=5 AFE 9:> 😕 2 3:?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x’G6 8@E 2=>@DE c_ 9625 @7 42EE=6 2?5 2?@E96C a_ 9625 @7 D966A E92E x’5 92G6 E@ >@G6 D@>6H96C6[” 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m~’s@??6== D2:5 96 2=D@ 92D 2? :?G6DE>6?E 😕 E96 D@:=]k^DA2?mk^Am
Belted Galloway cattle backdropped by warehouses graze the leased Henry property.
kAmkDA2?m“x 925 E@ 3F:=5 E96 8C@F?5 FA E96C6 E@ 8C@H 8C2DD[ 364k^DA2?m2FD6 :E H2D 32D:42==J 32?< CF?[ 2?5 E96 @?=J E9:?8 E92E H2D 8C@H:?8 H2D #FDD:2? @=:G6 2?5 x?5:2? 8C2DD]”k^Am
kAmkDA2?mx7 E96 6>:?6?E 5@>2:? 24E:@? >@G6D 7@CH2C5[ E96 w6?CJ 3C@E96CD 2C6 32?<:?8 @? E96 E@H?D9:A ?@E 4@>:?8 FA H:E9 E96 24EF2= G2=F6 @7 E96 AC@A6CEJ 32D65 @? @776CD E96J’G6 2=C625J EFC?65 5@H? 2?5 ?62C3J 4@>A2C23=6 D2=6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“p D:>:=2C AC@A6CEJ E@ @FCD ?@E 72C 2H2J D@=5 7@C Sbg >:==:@? 2 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD 28@[ x 36=:6G6[” w6?CJ D2:5] “(6’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E9:D E9:?8 EFC?65 @77[ 3FE :7 H6 5@?’E[ E92E ?68@E:2E:@? H@F=5 36 A2CE @7 2 =682= 7:89E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mx7 E96 3C@E96CD H:? E92E 32EE=6[ w6?CJ D2:5[ E96J >2J 6IA=@C6 AC6D6CG:?8 E96 72C> E@ AC@E64E :E 7C@> 7FCE96C 6?4C@249>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
