State and federal funds would be used to pay difference between farming, development value

 

Nathan Elzinga walked past hundreds of cows in his barn Monday afternoon with a needle in one hand and a clipboard in the other.

Just as the animals curiously stuck out their heads, Elzinga pounced on the ones that needed their shot.

After dealing with a number of unhappy cows, he reached the barn's exit, which revealed acres of rolling farmland in the distance covered in a blanket of mist.

Elzinga said Zeeland Township used to have lots of land like his -- property dedicated to agriculture uses.

However, in the last 10 years, development has popped up all around him.

"We haven't been specifically approached about it, but we feel the pressure from the houses moving in," said the co-owner of Daybreak Dairy, 4861 Adams St. "It used to be farmland and I can still remember that and I am only 22 years old. So, it's moving fast."

Sometimes a little extra money is all it takes to preserve land, especially when it involves farmland in developing areas, Elzinga said.

Ottawa County officials used that philosophy to come up with a program they say will protect the county's agriculture-based communities.

The proposed Purchase of Development Rights Program -- in the works since early 2007 -- will encourage farmland owners to voluntarily sell their development rights.

The county's planning commission expressed its support for the program in March. The Ottawa County Planning and Policy Committee will review the program Thursday and if approved it goes to the county board April 22.

Those individuals can access state and federal funds to be paid the difference between the land's agricultural value and potential development value, according to a news release.

When the deal is complete, use of the property would be restricted to farming, open space or wildlife habitat.

That designation would remain with the land for good, even if the owner chooses to sell it.

"It's a big tool the farmers can use for farmland preservation," said Bill Miller, the vice chairman for the county's planning commission, the group that worked on the program.

The planning commission has stressed the issue will be important when the county recovers from the current economic slowdown.

"There is an increased risk to farmland preservation because of the development dollars that will return to the region," Jeff Wincel, a planning commission member, said at a meeting last year.

Adam Kantrovich, director of the Michigan State University Extension in Ottawa County, said county farmers have mixed feelings about the idea.

For farmers in areas where population density and land values are increasing, the program will open up new opportunities to stay in business.

However, some don't want to commit to the program because it could hurt their business in the future. If they decide to get out of agriculture, they will be unable to make money on the land.

"There are producers against the idea because it is philosophical," Kantrovich said. "You can no longer really sell your land at its true value."

Miller, who is a Wright Township farmer, said the county will oversee the program, but will not use general fund money toward it.

Instead money to purchase the development rights should come from the state's Agricultural Preservation Fund, the release said.

Other funding sources include grants, donations, special assessments and fees, according to the program's proposal.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Details

* A seven-member county agricultural preservation board -- consisting of government officials, residents and the business community -- will be created.

* The county-appointed group will review applications from farmers, prioritize them, determine the purchase price and monitor compliance, the proposal said.