For 30 years, a farmland conservation program in Long Island was able to keep farmers farming land that was becoming increasingly valuable and sought by developers. But now, the land is being bought by developers and is not being farmed.
"But because land in eastern Long Island is so valuable - in some places, developable land sells for as much as $5 million per acre - even land that cannot be developed has increased in price. An acre of farmland that must stay in its natural state now commands as much as $100,000 an acre."
Increasinlgy, "developers buy the land as an amenity for the housing subdivisions they put up around the farmland. The open grassland or fallow parcels raise the prices of homes around them on the East End."
"A homeowners' association or an adjacent homeowner ends up owning the agricultural reserve, neither of which is very likely to lease that land to a farmer, whose pesticides and noisy tractors and farm equipment might spoil an open vista on a tranquil summer afternoon."
FULL STORY: Preserving Land, but Not for Farmers
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
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Has President Trump Met His Match?
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Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
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The Unseen Aftermath: Wildfires’ Lasting Health and Emotional Burden
Wildfires in Los Angeles not only pose immediate physical health risks but also lead to long-term respiratory problems and mental health struggles, underscoring the need for a coordinated public health response to mitigate their lasting effects.
Public Parks as Climate Resilience Tools
Designed with green infrastructure, parks can mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat, and enhance climate resilience, offering cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges while benefiting communities.
What the Proposed Federal Budget Means for Transit, Rail
The proposed FY 2025 budget keeps spending for public transit and passenger rail essentially the same as in 2024.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
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Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research