Friday, October 29, 1999
Report aims to save Butler farm land
Growth has claimed 60,000 acres
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Over the past 30 years, development has gobbled up more than 60,000 acres of farm land in Butler County.
“In just one generation, there's been a one-third reduction of farms,” said Dan Huss, chairman of a subcommittee asked by the county commissioners to study the issue of farm land preservation.
After eight months of work, the subcommittee of the county's Land Use Coordinating Committee issued a report Thursday recommending the county take steps to save as much farm land as possible by promoting “smart growth.”
It's especially important for a county growing as fast as Butler to try to direct development away from prime farm land, Mr. Huss said.
Since 1969, Butler County has lost 61,911 acres of 196,417 acres of producing farm land, the report says.
The commissioners had not seen the report until Thursday. Commissioner Courtney Combs said they will respond to the report after taking time to study it.
The report's recommendations include:
• Forming a permanent committee to review and advise about sewer extension, road construction, rezoning and other proposals that might affect agricultural land.
• Looking for additional ways to preserve farm land, educate the public on farm policy and promote agricultural financial stability.
• Establishing policies for sewer extensions that encourage growth in non-agricultural areas and discourage sewer extensions that would result in the loss of farm land.
• Encouraging programs that use state and federal funds or charitable contributions for the purchase of prime farm land.
• Creating policies and tax incentives for commercial and residential development in urban areas.
• Encouraging cluster development, as opposed to sprawling development.
• Develop a zoning code that promotes agricultural land preservation.
The subcommittee based its recommendations on the results of a survey of 1,544 county residents. Surveys were sent to 3,784 residents, about half of whom owned farm land.
The survey results showed strong support for farmland preservation, but little support for increasing taxes to accomplish it.
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