Conservation group to pay $15M to preserve 835-acre Pinelands property
Developer Linda Samost has agreed to the sale, which is $2.4 million less than the property’s full market value, according an announcement of the deal.
An 835-acre property in Burlington County once threatened by development will be sold to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation for $15 million, according to a deal announced Tuesday.
Evesham Township plans to incorporate the new property into its already popular Black Run Preserve, swelling the size of that 1,300 acre holding widely used by hikers, birdwatchers, and cyclists.
Developer Linda Samost has agreed to the sale, which is $2.4 million less than the property’s full market value, the announcement said.
“We are eager to move forward with the project so that the community can experience and appreciate the natural beauty of this land for years to come,” Samost said in a statement.
Tuesday’s announcement noted, however, that while a sale contact has been signed, the foundation still needs to raise more money before taking ownership. It plans to launch a fundraising campaign with partners that will allow for public contributions.
The property has been the site of a fight over its future since 2024 when Kettle Run Investments LP, led by the Samost family, submitted plans to the state’s Pinelands Commission to build 250 single-family homes on a portion of the tract.
That plan drew vehement opposition from the community, the nonprofit Pinelands Alliance advocacy organization, and local officials.
At the same time, the state’s Pinelands Commission was rezoning a large area from rural development (RD-3) to Pinelands Forest Area, which would have greatly reduced the amount of development that could have taken place on Samost’s property.
Linda Samost told The Inquirer last year that her “inclinations” were to have the land “benefit the community and the ecosystem, the environment,” rather than be developed.
» READ MORE: Developer with controversial plan to build houses on a Pinelands tract hopes to have it preserved instead
But the price had to be right and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation began negotiating with Samost.
In November, the Burlington County Commissioners authorized $5 million from its open space funds to help with a purchase. The Pinelands Commission, an independent state agency, also approved a $3 million grant toward the purchase.
It was not immediately clear how much additional money the foundation needs to raise.
The Samost property is situated between Kettle Run, Tomlinson Mill, Kenilworth and Egret roads in Evesham.
It is part of New Jersey’s Pinelands and the source of the Black Run, a tributary that feeds Rancocas Creek. The property is habitat for numerous species, including the threatened Pinelands tree frog.
The adjoining Black Run Preserve is widely used by bird watchers, hikers, and cyclists.
Robyn Jeney, a New Jersey Conservation Foundation regional manager, said the preservation means “water quality, critical plant and animal habitat, and the overall ecological integrity of the area will be protected for generations to come.”
“This agreement marks a historic milestone for Evesham Township and a victory for every resident who treasures our natural landscape,” said Evesham Township Mayor Jaclyn Veasy.
Jane Dean, board president of the Friends of the Black Run Preserve, said the deal means, “this place will remain as it should be, unbroken, instructive, and alive.”
Susan Grogan, executive director of the Pinelands Commission, called it “the best possible outcome for this property.” She noted the property has long been a “top target” by the commission for preservation.“
This is a developing story and may be updated.