A Feasibility Study for Urban Edge Agricultural Parks - SAGE

less production-oriented, but instead based on the appeal of private propertyowners to live as small vineyard owners.In another variation, Wente Vineyards grows the grapes on 2,000 acres in theLivermore Valley spread across 11 parcels of 5 to 166 acres each, underconservation easements held by the Tri-Valley Conservancy.In summary, the concept of transferring the value achieved by offering agriculturalproximity as a homesite amenity, may have substantial potential to fund AgParkconcepts. This approach would likely require attractive, appealing locations nearurban areas, with scenery or the appeal of a specific popular crop such as grapes orspecialty crops to attract buyers and obtain a sufficient land value premium for thearrangement. It is likely that this approach could also be combined with secondhome developments, and/or the tourist villa concept exemplified by the La Foceexample in Tuscany. Land uses, site design, environmental preservation, and thelogistics of operating a farm adjacent to homesites would all need to be carefullyplanned and managed.Another variation of the concept of supporting farming through private funding ofancillary activities is to manage land resources like the National Trust in the UK,where estates are donated to the organization and managed to maximize revenuethrough vacation rentals, while offering leases to farmers at below-market rents.However, it should be noted that this model presents several challenges, includingstruggles to maintain financial viability within the organization (addressed throughmajor public donations), and the ongoing challenge of tenant farmers to maintainviable agricultural operations even with below-market lease payments.However, as demonstrated by La Foce in Italy and the Purple Orchid in Livermore,agricultural tourism may be a viable income source in regional networks. Otherexamples include eco-villages such as Findhorn in Scotland, where cooperativeownership relies on tourism to support organic farming.DRAFT 1.6.05 84