For generations of families in Cranbury, New Jersey, the stretch of 1234 South River Road has been more than just farmland. Locals call it the “cow and sheep farm,” where children wave at grazing animals and commuters catch a moment of peace before hitting the NJ Turnpike. To Andy Henry, it’s home. His family has worked this land for over 150 years, turning down developers and high-dollar offers. But in 2025, that legacy may be bulldozed under pressure from the Mount Laurel affordable housing mandate.
As reported by NJ101.5, the Cranbury Township committee voted unanimously to seize the land through eminent domain. The justification? The township must meet a court-mandated quota of 265 affordable housing units by 2035, or face litigation. Critics argue that Cranbury had other options to meet its obligations under New Jersey’s controversial Mount Laurel doctrine, but instead chose “the oldest, most loved, most recognized land in town”.
“Not from a mayor. Not from a council member. A stranger,” reads a note on the farm’s GoFundMe campaign, describing how Andy first learned the township had targeted his land—from an unsigned letter delivered by a lawyer.
The township says its hands are tied by state housing mandates, and that Andy’s farm met a restrictive set of infrastructure requirements: access to sewer, water, and existing warehouse buffers. But according to locals, the town has failed to meaningfully pursue alternative parcels—raising concern that backroom deals and developer preferences, not necessity, drove the decision.
The Mount Laurel legal precedent, established by the New Jersey Supreme Court in the 1970s, requires every municipality to offer a “fair share” of affordable housing. If towns fall short, developers can sue to override zoning laws. Cranbury has until June 30, 2025 to submit its updated plan or risk losing control of the process altogether.
Meanwhile, Andy and his family face a looming legal fight. As reported by News 12 New Jersey, they’ve already been threatened with legal costs that could bankrupt them. “He’s not a developer. He doesn’t have a lobbyist or a war chest,” reads the GoFundMe. “He only has us. His neighbors. His community. Anyone who still believes in decency, dignity, and the simple idea that history is worth more than concrete.”
This 21-acre working farm has been rented to local livestock producers and is still producing food for the region. Yet, as one ABC7NY report put it, the township appears ready to “hand the land to a private developer to collect government housing subsidies.” Even as farmland vanishes across the state, the battle in Cranbury has exposed a deeper fracture: between a system that views land as quota inventory, and communities that see it as sacred.
“Let’s show the Township that Cranbury isn’t for sale. Let’s show Andy that his sacrifices and his love for this land mean something.” the petition reads.
Take Action
To support Andy’s legal fight, visit the Save Andy’s Farm GoFundMe. To help keep local ranchland out of developers’ hands across the country, explore real-time listings at BeefMaps.com—where independent producers are defending their ground, one pasture at a time.
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