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Development rights to Tilden Lane Farm in Greenlawn have been acquired by the County of Suffolk, Huntington City Councilor Mark Cuthbertson said Thursday.
The farm has been in operation since 1793.
This acquisition means that the property will continue to operate as a private farm, but nothing else. “On every farm is a set of rights,†said Sarah Lansdale, Suffolk County Planning Director. “The right to cultivate it, the right to build a house. And what we do is buy the development rights so that they can no longer build a house or develop it commercially or industrially. They will only be able to cultivate. They still retain ownership. It’s still on the tax roll, but they can cultivate forever.
The Suffolk Development Rights program to preserve farmland began in 1974.
The Tilden property is one of 48 acquisitions closed since 1998, Cuthbertson said, and preserves farmland and farm jobs.
“Tilden’s farm will remain a working farm, thanks to the partnership between the city and the county, who worked together 50-50 to purchase the development rights to this 13.69-acre farm,” Cuthbertson said.
Bruce Tilden, the current owner of the farm, said it was named a Bicentennial Farm in 1976 in recognition of its historical roots.
“My wife Jeanne and I look forward to continuing our agricultural tradition. My children and grandchildren are the seventh and eighth generation. In addition to growing Christmas trees, the farm has strawberries and beehives, and partners with a farmer who grows vegetables.
Other attendees at the press conference on Thursday included Larry Foglia, representative of the Suffolk County Agricultural Committee, August Ruckdeschel, Suffolk County Farmland and Open Space Coordinator, Council Members Ed Smyth, Joan Cergol and Gene Cook, and supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci.
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