No longer willing to give it a grow
Princeton Nurseries plans to cease operations by 2010
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

Princeton Nurseries, the largest landowner in Upper Freehold Township, is closing.

The company's president, Ivan Olinsky, made the announcement to his employees on June 8. Princeton Nurseries plans to phase out its operations by spring 2010. The company has 80 regular employees, he said, with as many as 200 people working there during its busy season.

At the company's June board of directors meeting, the ownership of Princeton Nurseries voted to conduct an organized and carefully structured phaseout of all nursery operations over the next three years, according to a letter sent to other firms in the horticultural industry.

The letter states, "A well-recognized and respected horticultural institution, Princeton Nurseries will conduct the phaseout with the utmost dignity and respect for the nursery industry and its loyal professional staff."

Olinsky noted that customers can be assured that the company's same quality and standard of excellence will continue until the closing is successfully completed.

Princeton Nurseries has 1,820 acres in Upper Freehold, 250 acres of which are in the Farmland Preservation Program. The preserved acreage, which is known as the former Collins farm, is located behind the Cream Ridge Winery off Polhemustown Road, according to Olinsky.

The company's remaining acreage in the township is zoned for either agricultural or residential use. If developed, the properties would fall subject to the township's current 3-acre zoning with an option for bonus density if the development is clustered. The township planner has recently recommended removing the bonus density option, but the public and officials have not yet had their say on the matter.

The business also has an additional 700 acres in Hamilton, Chesterfield and North Hanover, according to Olinsky.

Olinsky said Princeton Nurseries is currently discussing preserving about one-third of all of its property with the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) and other state agencies. Land appraisals should be completed by February or March of next year, he said.

Once the company receives the appraisals, the board of directors will further discuss preservation, he said.

Olinsky said the company is also looking at other scenarios for the future of its land, which includes selling it to another horticultural operator. The Princeton Nurseries name would no longer be used even if the property sells to a similar business, Olinsky said.

Final decisions about the company's land will be based on an economic standpoint after Princeton Nurseries meets with developers and investors, he said.

Olinsky said the company was once fairly committed to working with the township and its proposed master plan draft, which included part of the company's property as a potential village center. The village center area referred to as "Ellisdale" in the draft exists along the north side of Polhemustown Road and includes Princeton Nurseries' land.

Olinsky said Princeton Nurseries was willing to do the investigative work for such a village center and was prepared to put a significant amount of its other Upper Freehold property into farmland preservation. The company spent a tremendous amount of money on the endeavor, he said.

The village center would have covered between 200 and 300 acres, with the rest of the land remaining as open space.

"We're not pursuing it anymore," Olinsky said. "It appears the township has abandoned that issue."

Earlier this year, Princeton Nurseries sent invitations to residents, put ads in local newspapers and held a series of 14 meetings with residents to gauge how they envision the future of the township. Those who participated were also invited to a larger gathering March 3 at the Cream Ridge Golf Club.

Olinsky said that Deputy Mayor William Miscoski was the only member of the Township Committee to attend any of the public meetings. He said no Planning Board members attended.

Olinsky said he is highly concerned about the constantly eroding land equity in the township. To him, it seems like the Township Committee and the Planning Board will never decide how to preserve agriculture in the township and maintain its country code.

"If you are interested in maintaining agriculture and the country code, talk to us," he said. "There is no one who has come and talked to us," he said, referring to township officials.

Olinsky said the Flemer family, which owns Princeton Nurseries, wants to do what is right for the community.

With regard to the ongoing master plan revisions in the township, Olinsky said the Planning Board's concept is "all theory and no vision."

"Downzoning won't preserve agriculture and won't preserve the country code," he said. "Decisions must be made. All [officials] do is argue back and forth."

When asked if he thinks agriculture could survive in Upper Freehold, Olinsky said he believes that some agriculture will.

"It's getting much more difficult for the farmer to survive here, and the issue of equity is not [being] addressed," he said. "The majority of farmers here are not making money."

Olinsky also touched upon how Princeton Nurseries has been very involved with the community. He said the company donated trees to both Byron Johnson Park and the Mark Harbourt Soccer Fields and that it has donated material for the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold. The company has supported the Allentown/Upper Freehold Little League, he said, and has also sponsored local youth groups.

"We believe in being part of the community and giving back on a regular basis," Olinsky said.