Why large lot zoning does not protect land, rural character or working farmland

Many communities mistakenly believe that large lot zoning http://bit.ly/bxN8vo will protect land, and preserve rural character and working farmland. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Zoning is temporary at best. LandChoices http://landchoices.org interviews David Skjaerlund, owner of Pleasant View Farms in Coleman, Michigan.

David discusses how an 80 acre farm that he rents and farms is being split into eight, 10 acre parcels, too small to farm, shown in this video. Usually, through the years, whenever the landowner sells, 10 acre parcels are split into five acre parcels, then split again into two or three acre parcels, then one acre parcels, so you end up with a subdivision that is not even planned.

The other problem that David mentions is that these new neighbors who purchase the 10 acre parcels to "build their dream home in the country" may not understand the odors, noise, dust and traffic slowdowns that living close to a farm brings, opening up the farmer to possible nuisance complaints, and threatening surrounding farmland and working family farms.

What's a better way? Protect the 10 acre parcels with permenant conservation easements http://www.landchoices.org/preserveland.htm . Or sell the 10 acre parcels as "country estates" inside a conservation subdivision http://www.landchoices.org/conservationsubs.htm and protect the 10 acre parcels with conservation easements to prevent further splits and protect natural resources, clean water, wildlife habitat, and working farmland, organic farms, and family farms.

Learn more at http://www.landchoices.org.

NOTE: We apologize for the excessive wind noise and sometimes weak audio in the video. Despite our best efforts and top of the line wind protectors, the winds were gusting to over 60mph that day. Thank you for understanding.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• protect land
• preserve farmland
• large lot zoning
• land preservation
• Smart Growth
• conservation
• land trust
• save our environment
• envirnonmental protection

[westdavies]

Great videos. Thanks for keeping the public informed of the importance of land conservation.