A 21-acre farm in Cranbury, owned by the same family since the 1850s, is at the center of a growing dispute as the township moves to seize it by eminent domain to meet state-mandated affordable housing goals.
The farm, located off South River Road near Turnpike Exit 8A, is run by brothers Andrew and Christopher Henry, who lease it to a local farmer raising livestock. The township plans to acquire the land to build part of the 265 affordable housing units required under New Jersey’s Mount Laurel Doctrine.
Cranbury officials say the property meets updated state criteria for such development, including access to sewer, water, and proximity to transit. After reviewing over 50 sites, the Township Committee voted unanimously in May to target the Henry farm.
The family says the land is zoned for light industrial use and is surrounded by warehouses, making it unsuitable for housing. They have rejected multi-million-dollar offers from developers in the past and now plan to challenge the seizure in court. A fundraiser to support legal costs has drawn more than $27,000.
Critics argue the location is too remote and violates the township’s master plan, which aims to preserve farmland and separate residential areas from industrial zones. Cranbury is expected to submit its housing plan by June 30, with a planning board review set for June 24.
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