A Feasibility Study for Urban Edge Agricultural Parks - SAGE

To ensure conservation in perpetuity, along with access, easements for both farmedacreage and open space are created separately from each other and overlaid ontomultiple new homebuyers’ properties. Different organizations are targeted for eacheasement based on the organizations’ expertise and geographic scope with a mix oflocal, regional and national land trusts.Public access is not granted under this model, though it could be possible. Homesite buyers are granted access to portions of the farmland for their own farming orhusbandry practices such as land for horses.LandA total of seven farms have been preserved usingthis method, with 20 more farms underconsideration for future projects. In total, 255acres of farmland have been placed undereasement, while another 1,600 acres areexpected in a planned network of farms andhome sites.To date, the development company has operatedonly in New England, but an interview with thedeveloper indicated his interest in expanding theconcept, including to California locations.Target Producers & CropsThis model does not target or preclude any particular operation, but the developerwould not pursue the concept in cases where the likely operation included conflictswith the marketing of home sites (e.g., pigs). Typical crops thus far involved in theNew England examples include corn, hay, grazing lands, and grapes.Farming Practices/EnvironmentalConservationFarm practices are at the discretion of the farmer; however the right-to-farmagreement stipulates that conservation farming must be practiced with no topsoilloss. The program also preserves open space separately from the acreage to beactively farmed.This model was initially developed primarily to conserve open space. In someprojects, both active farming and open space are preserved, with separateeasements structured to apply to each area of the project.DRAFT 1.6.05 67