Kent County's Plan To Protect Farmland

Agricultural land is vanishing fast in this western Michigan county as new homes, roads, and sprawl reach farther into the countryside.

1 minute read

September 19, 2002, 2:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Approximately 32 percent of Kent County's 547,840 acres is used foragriculture. But it's vanishing fast in this western Michigan county asnew homes, stores, roads, and sprawl reach ever farther into thecountryside. Now Kent County officials are proposing a plan to protect93,000 acres over the next decade, one of the most ambitious farmlandprotection programs in the nation. If the proposed plan provessuccessful,reports the Institute's Andy Guy, it will preserve approximately 17percent for crops and livestock. But a vigorous opposition campaign isunderway.

Thanks to Keith Schneider

FULL STORY: In Kent County, Stirring A Plan To Protect Farmland

Wednesday, September 18, 2002 in Michigan Land Use Institute

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