A 27-acre preserved farm along Bear Tavern Road in Hopewell Township will be offered at public auction this spring, creating a rare opportunity to purchase — and permanently steward — protected farmland in the heart of the Hopewell Valley.
The former Patricelli Farm, located at 1270 Bear Tavern Road, is scheduled to be sold at public auction on April 17, 2026, following two public farm tour dates on February 19 and March 31. The sale is being conducted through the State Agriculture Development Committee’s Farmland Preservation Program, which periodically resells farms it has purchased and permanently preserved.
Unlike conventional real estate listings, the Patricelli Farm is encumbered by a permanent agricultural easement that removes development rights from the property and restricts its future use to agriculture.
The State Agriculture Development Committee’s Farmland Preservation Program periodically resells farms it has purchased and permanently preserved. According to SADC’s auction materials, the Patricelli Farm is restricted for agricultural use under a Farmland Preservation Deed of Easement, and any successful bidder will be required to comply with those restrictions in perpetuity.
A Farm Preserved for Agriculture
The Patricelli Farm consists of approximately 27 acres and includes a single-family ranch-style residence overlooking open fields and neighboring preserved farmland. According to SADC materials, the property contains 67 percent Prime Farmland soils and 33 percent Statewide Important soils, indicating strong agricultural potential.
The land has already undergone preservation through the state’s farmland preservation process, meaning it cannot be subdivided or developed for non-agricultural purposes. Soil disturbance is limited, and any agricultural use must comply with the terms of the preservation easement. While the existing residence may remain, future residential expansion is capped, and non-farm commercial uses are prohibited.
The property is located along Bear Tavern Road in Titusville, within close proximity to Washington Crossing State Park and surrounded by other preserved farmland, placing it within a protected agricultural landscape in the Hopewell Valley.
How the Auction Will Work
The public auction will take place on April 17 at 11 a.m. at 200 Riverview Plaza in Trenton, with bidder registration beginning at 10 a.m. Prospective bidders must be pre-qualified and comply with detailed bidding requirements outlined by the State Agriculture Development Committee.
According to the auction materials, interested buyers must submit financial disclosures and demonstrate their ability to meet the ongoing obligations of owning preserved farmland. The property carries a minimum bid requirement, and additional reports — including environmental assessments, surveys, and inspection materials — are available upon written request through the SADC.
Two public farm tours are scheduled ahead of the auction: February 19 and March 31, both from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tours are open to the public and do not require advance registration, allowing prospective buyers and community members to walk the property and review its features firsthand.
A Rare Opportunity in the Hopewell Valley
The Hopewell Valley has a long-standing commitment to farmland preservation, with thousands of acres protected through municipal, county, and state programs. While preserved farmland remains a defining feature of the region’s landscape, opportunities to purchase preserved farms — particularly parcels of this size — are relatively uncommon.
Because development rights have been removed, preserved farms are intended to remain in agricultural use over the long term, rather than serving as speculative real estate. The resale process is designed to transfer ownership while maintaining the original preservation goals established when the land was protected.
The Patricelli Farm auction represents one of several preserved farmland sales scheduled statewide in 2026. The State Agriculture Development Committee also periodically resells other preserved properties across New Jersey and maintains a notification list for individuals interested in future auctions.
What Comes Next
Public tours of the Patricelli Farm will take place on February 19 and March 31, with the auction scheduled for April 17. Additional information, including auction documents and bidding requirements, is available through the State Agriculture Development Committee’s Farmland Preservation Program.
Questions about the Patricelli Farm auction or future preserved farmland sales may be directed to Timothy Willmott, Chief of Stewardship for the State Agriculture Development Committee, at [email protected] or 609-913-6577.
