Browning-Hess Family, County Reach Agreement

Burlington County reached an agreement with the Browning-Hess family to purchase the development rights of the historic 42-acre farm on Lenola Road.

The agreement ensures the land will continue as a working farm permanently, maintaining its historic place in the community. It will also keep the land from ever being developed. The process should be finalized in about six months.

For the four-generation Browning-Hess family who operate the farm, the easement means they will continue to own and operate the farm, warding off any threat of development through eminent domain or other process.

“We’re very excited and thrilled,” said David Hess, who owns and operates the farm with wife Debbie and his children, grandchildren and mother-in-law. “We maintain ownership and we will continue to grow our field operations and market.”

For Moorestown, the easement allows the township more permanent open space that will not incur additional maintenance expenses.

“Great News”

In return for the easement for open space, the Browning-Hess family will be paid a per-acre fee. The cost of the land, purchased through the county’s Farmland Preservation Program, will be split between the county, which will pay 80 percent, and the township, which will pay 20 percent.

“This is great news. We support the preservation of farmland and open space,” said Deputy Mayor Gregory Gallo. “The township will be paying its percentage of the purchase price out of the Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. And our efforts supporting other uses of the fund such as recreation improvements doesn’t limit our ability to accomplish this. We can do both.”

John Logue, chairman of the zoning board and a member, since January, of the Burlington County Agricultural Development Board, is a longtime friend of the Hess family.

“I’m proud and happy for Lenola and for the Hess (family). This is the only open space on the western side of Moorestown,” said Logue, who lives in the Lenola section of Moorestown. “I think it’s a terrific win for the town because it never has to be maintained.”

Logue, who was named to the county board long after the Browning-Hess Farm started the preservation process, will recuse himself from any discussions or votes to accept the final proposal.

Productive and Historic

Brian Wilson, acting coordinator of the Burlington County Farmland Preservation Program, also called the agreement a win for the county and Moorestown. The farm won acceptance because of its soil quality, a criterion for all farms in the preservation pipeline. 

“The soil ensures these farms will produce a variety of crops into the future with the potential of producing high yields,” Wilson said. 

Farms also must be under threat of development. A history, while not a deciding fact in selection, can help, he added.

“It’s a unique farm because it is able to do direct marketing of their product to the local community,” Wilson said. “The fact that it is a historic farm does not dictate that it will become part of the program but the story helps.”

The Browning-Hess Farm is the oldest working farm in Moorestown, with the most active generations. Started by Eli Browning, it moved from the Delair section of Pennsauken to Moorestown 1898. Back then, it was called the Slim Farm.

The farm continued in the family with Bud and Lilian Browning as full-time farmers. When Bud died, Debbi and David Hess became full-time farmers, along with Lilian, their children and grandchildren.

The farm produces 25 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, four or five regular varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, pumpkins and gourds in the fall and other vegetables. Crops are sold directly to the community through its Farm Market on Lenola Road. 

Final Steps

Although the Hess family and Burlington County have reached an agreement, final settlement relies on several steps. 

“The township still has to do a resolution supporting the preservation and committing to its portion and the county will have to do a resolution after that,” said Acting Township Manager and Finance Director Tom Merchel.

“Basically, the resolution states the township is committed to preserving the farmland for the benefit of the citizens of the township, and also states that the township would be willing to provide its cost share of 20 percent.”

For David Hess, though, the finalization means the family will be able to stay in Moorestown and continue to farm for generations to come.

“That has been our dream.”