Monday, March 06, 2000
Effort to stem farmland development taking root
BY CINDI ANDREWS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The effort to slow the conversion of farmland into strip malls and housing developments is rippling into the Tristate.
It began in the heavily populated Northeast and moved into Pennsylvania, and now there is a growing consciousness in the Midwest that farmland isn't in limitless supply.
Ohio, with several large cities, has a third less land in agriculture today than in 1950.
The change is even more marked in southwestern Ohio counties, where U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers show losses up to 75 percent.
“Something has to be done to preserve our farmland because we can't let what's happening continue,” said Don Von Holle, a 76-year-old Mason-area farmer. “Everybody likes to take a ride in the country. Well, they're not going to have a place to ride pretty soon if we don't do something about it.”
Development threatens farmers' way of life and Ohio's agricultural economic base but it's hard for struggling or older farmers to pass up the high prices offered for their fields and pastures. And citizens and politicians alike balk at any thing that smells of government limiting property owners' rights.
The state has begun to make some options available, but it's up to Ohio's 88 counties to decide what they want to do, said Howard Wise, executive director of Ohio's 2-year-old Office of Farmland Preservation.
“The way that farmland preservation works in this state is at the bottom level,” Mr. Wise said. “It is not a top-down effort.”
Warren County began by questioning farmland owners. A third of the 54 percent who responded said they'd like their land to stay in agriculture, even after they die or sell it.
The next step, county commissioners decided last month, is to ask how they should help owners make that happen.
“I'm a firm believer in "I don't like people to tell me what to do with my property, so I don't tell people what to do with theirs,'” said Gene Steiner, 38, who raises purebred cattle in Turtlecreek Township.
If counties have enough farmers with such attitudes and responsive governments, there's time to save the farmland, said Peggy Schear, district specialist for community development in Ohio State University's Dayton extension office.
“It's never too late until you're completely built out,” Ms. Schear said. “Butler and Warren and Clermont still have the opportunity to do more planning for their growth, rather than have it happen haphazardly.”
Their options include:
• Agricultural easements. This avenue, OK'd by the General Assembly, lets counties and other government or nonprofit groups buy development rights to property or receive them as donations. It doesn't change ownership of the land but restricts what can be done with the land, even when sold.
• Zoning. If county or township voters agree, zoning can be adopted to permit — for instance — just one residence for every 20 acres in some areas.
• Tax breaks. In exchange for not developing land, owners' property tax rates could be lowered.
• Family farm loan guarantees. This state program helps first-time farm buyers.
• State environmental bond. If approved by the General Assembly and Ohio voters, it would make $200 million available to help local governments buy land-saving easements.
“I think what we're seeing is an awakening awareness,” Ms. Schear said. “I think we'll start seeing policies coming from that.”
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