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| Ohio land use conference scheduled for Sept. 14 |
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| Land use planning, zoning and eminent domain are topics of interest to many citizens of Butler County, Ohio.
“In the last 50 years more than 6.9 million acres of Ohio farmland have been converted from agriculture use,” according to Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs. “Agriculture in Ohio is a multi-billion industry adding nearly $94 billion into the economy. It is imperative that we work to save our most valuable resource through farmland preservation,” Boggs said.
The latest round of funding for purchase of agricultural easements is scheduled to set aside 3,316 acres of 20 farms across the state of Ohio. One of those farms is in Butler County, and four are in Preble County. An agricultural easement is an agreement between the landowner, the state and the local community to keep a piece of property in agricultural production forever. Landowners may undertake any agricultural activity permitted under Ohio law, and can sell their farm or pass it along as a gift to others. The restriction prohibiting non-farm development travels with the land and future owners cannot convert the land to non-farm uses.
Ohio State University Extension will take a look at where Ohio is heading in its land use policies through an Ohio Land Use Conference, taking place Sept. 14.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Ohio State University’s Fawcett Center on Olentangy River Road in Columbus, Ohio. The registration is $65 and includes all meals and materials. Registration deadline is September 10.
The conference is targeted to county and township officials; zoning officials; government agency personnel; community land trusts; soil and water officials, and those interested in learning more about smart growth.
A highlight of the Ohio Land Use Conference will be a session on Ohio’s new eminent domain law, presented by Ohio Senator Timothy Grendell (R), the law’s primary sponsor.
Other topics to be covered during the land use conference include platting and zoning authority, sprawl, inequity and economic opportunity; community infrastructure development opportunities; updating your comprehensive land use plan; cost of community service studies; and water supply and land use. A diverse faculty of attorneys, planners, local officials and academicians will present the sessions.
To register, go to: www.comde v.osu.edu/landuse_conf07.html
This farm news was published in the Sept. 5, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 9/5/2007 |
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