WEST OLIVE, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Feb. 25, 2022) – The effort to preserve farmland in Ottawa County continues.
The county’s Purchase of Development Rights program is accepting applications through April 30th for property owners in 16 participating townships to assign development rights to farmland to the county. Through state and federal grants, private donations and landowner contributions, the county has the money to create a permanent agricultural conservation easement.
Farmland preservation is close to the heart for Ottawa County Board Chairman Matt Fenske of the Marne area. “With our county being the fastest growing county in the state of Michigan out of 83 (based on the 2020 census),” he said on “WHTC Talk of the Town” during a recent appearance, “and positive economic growth trends continue to gobble up a lot of land, we need to really concentrate on trying to make sure that we are protecting our good agricultural property.”
Fenske added that, while accepted property owners are compensated for lost development potential, they still will own the land and retain all other rights associated with it.
More information, as well as a link to the online application, is here.
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