Hillsborough Township To Permanently Preserve 430-Acres As Farmland

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Township is making history by moving forward with a plan to permanently preserve 430 acres of land near Hamilton and Amwell Roads, known as the Mindel Tract.

This will be the largest preserved farmland in Hillsborough's history.

The township introduced an ordinance on March 10 to authorize the sale of a farmland preservation development easement to the New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC).

The Township had purchased the land on Jan. 6, 2022, for $14 million after being approached by the Mindel family regarding a potential sale to block a warehouse.

The Township used a bond ordinance to make the purchase without depleting the Open Space Trust Fund.

Under the new agreement with the SADC, Hillsborough is expected to receive around $13.1 million in exchange for the development rights. The money will be used to offset the debt incurred from the original purchase of the land in 2022.

By securing this easement, the township ensures that the property remains an agricultural cornerstone of the community in perpetuity.

This ordinance is the final step in the Township's efforts to prevent large-scale industrial and residential development on the site.

"This is a defining moment for Hillsborough’s commitment to preserving our agricultural landscape and farming heritage,” said Mayor Catherine Payne. "By securing this tract, we aren’t just stopping warehouses and power plants; we’re expanding our preserved farmland inventory by over 12 percent in a single action. This will be the largest single preserved farmland tract in our Township and one of the largest in Somerset County."

Before the township acquired the land in 2022, the property faced various development proposals, including a natural gas power generation facility, high-density housing, and warehouse complexes. This legislation ensures those intensive uses are permanently off the table for the site.

The township will retain ownership of the acreage for the time being.

In the future, the committee may consider selling the property as a preserved farm, which would allow it to return to private ownership as a working landscape.

"We are proud to transition this land from a site of potential industrial sprawl to a permanent legacy of farmland preservation and protecting Hillsborough’s rural character for generations to come," said Deputy Mayor and Planning & Zoning liaison Shawn Lipani.

A public hearing before a final vote on the ordinance will be held at the March 24 Township Committee meeting.

See the full ordinance below:

2026-03 Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Development by Alexis Tarrazi