Ann Arbor has 4,100 acres of protected land under its Greenbelt after 2012 purchases
This map from the city of Ann Arbor's website shows lands protected under the city's Greenbelt Program as of June 2012. Hundreds of acres have been added since then.
City of Ann Arbor
Those properties comprise 671 acres of farmland, natural areas and open spaces surrounding the city, bringing the total area of land preserved under the Greenbelt to 4,100-plus acres.
"The city has now protected more than six square miles of farmland and open space within an hour's bike ride from downtown," said Dan Ezekiel, chairman of the Greenbelt Advisory Commission.
The city pays for Greenbelt purchases using proceeds from a millage that brings in more than $2 million annually from city taxpayers.
The development rights to a 73-acre farm (shown in red) along Pontiac Trail and Brookville Road in Salem Township came at a cost of $199,367 to the city, while Salem Township and Washtenaw County each contributed $64,200 toward the purchase price and the land owner donated $32,100. The property was recently purchased by Dan Hornback and his wife, Amy, who hope to use some of the farm fields for pumpkin growing.
City of Ann Arbor
The Greenbelt program, partly intended to stop urban sprawl, was approved by Ann Arbor voters in November 2003 at a time when a significant amount of development activity was occurring around Washtenaw County and farmland was being sold for development.
Ann Arbor voters authorized a 0.5-mill tax for 30 years, which funds parkland acquisition in the city and preservation of open space, agricultural land and natural habitats outside the city in a designated Greenbelt district.
City officials believe the properties help sustain a vibrant agriculture economy, provide scenic views, protect critical habitat and help protect the Huron River Watershed — the city's primary source of drinking water.
"We're especially thrilled with the quality of the most recent development rights acquisitions, as they include two farms that grow produce for local consumers, as well as a farm whose new owner plans possible you-pick and conservation of high-quality woods and wetlands onsite," Ezekiel said.
A 136-acre farm along Harris Road and Geddes Road in Superior Township (shown in red) is one of the latest additions to the city's Greenbelt Program. It's surrounded by several other lands preserved under various different programs.
City of Ann Arbor
The Greenbelt Program also completed two transactions using grant funds from the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service's Farm and Ranchland Protection Program.
In total for 2012, the program leveraged the city dollars with an additional $1.75 million from local and federal sources, the city reported.
"We partnered with Washtenaw County, the federal government, landowners, and local townships in bringing these latest projects to fruition, with a total match of 54 percent to the city's investment," Ezekiel said.
December was the busiest month for land protection in 2012, with the Greenbelt Program completing the purchase of development rights easements on four properties. All of the city's Greenbelt purchases are approved by the Ann Arbor City Council.
The development rights to a 25-acre farm owned by Suzanne and Robert VanNatter in Webster Township came at a cost of $126,867, which was entirely covered by the city.
The farm is located along Joy Road in a block of more than 1,100 acres of farmland already protected in Webster Township. The VanNatter family grows many varieties of vegetables that it sells at the Dexter Farmers Market and a roadside stand at the farm.
The development rights to a 90-acre farm owned by Robbin Alexander on Northfield Church Road in Webster Township came at a cost of $394,417 (with $226,837 paid by the city).
Alexander also is the owner of the Alexander Farm Market on Whitmore Lake Road and North Territorial and grows a variety of vegetables for his farm market. The farm also is located in the large block of farmland already protected in Webster Township.
A 25-acre farm (shown in red) in Webster Township is another of the latest additions to the city's Greenbelt Program.
City Ann Arbor
Schultz is a longtime farmer in the area and has completed PDR easements on his land first through the state, then with the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, and finally the city of Ann Arbor.
"This property is a very productive farm, and I don't like to see such property destroyed by development," Schultz said. "I think the best use for the property is to stay committed to agriculture. It gives me a good feeling to know that this will be farmland forever."
The development rights to a 73-acre farm along Pontiac Trail and Brookville Road in Salem Township came at a cost of $199,367 to the city, while Salem Township and Washtenaw County each contributed $64,200 toward the purchase price and the land owner donated $32,100.
The property was recently purchased by Dan Hornback and his wife, Amy, who hope to use some of the farm fields for pumpkin growing.
For more information, visit www.a2gov.org/greenbelt.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Halter
Wed, Jan 23, 2013 : 2:18 a.m.
Here's what I would love an article on in annarbor.com --- what are the steps required to get a policy "recalled"...i.e., what does it take to get it on the ballot for vote to get rid of this Greenbelt project... A link to an ann arbor government page explaining the steps would be sufficient. I would volunteer to be on a committee to get this going.
Halter
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 9:52 p.m.
I can not read any more of these articles -- it just makes me too mad at the complete and utter waste of money on this absolutely ridiculous Greenbelt project. That is all.
Mike
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
This brings peace to my innner soul. Bring on the high rises downtown.........................
Peter Eckstein
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 4:49 p.m.
Apparently there is no "belt" in "Greenbelt." In some cases, I suspect, there isn't even much green. Maybe it is time for Council and voters to reassess how this program fits into the city's spending priorities and heavy future obligations--to retired city workers and to bondholders of the city and the DDA.
Dexter Man
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
I don't see anything about green space in Ann Arbor. They are increasing the density of many properties but adding space well ouside the city which in many cases is not accessible to the general public.
Dan Ezekiel
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 11:36 p.m.
The millage is informally split two-thirds for Greenbelt and one-third for park acquisition within the city.
annarboral
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 3:59 p.m.
Please add the Ann Arbor Airport to the green belt. It would make a wonderful park and serve all the people.
Dog Guy
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 2:31 p.m.
Ann Arbor is littered with churches for worshiping God. This hundred-million-dollar millage serves our very vocal atheist citizenry by surrounding the city with nothing for them to worship.
Wolf's Bane
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
Great progress has been made. Let's make sure not to undercut these efforts with greed for more development. Remember: Balance is key to sustaining Ann Arbor's growth.
Wolf's Bane
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 6:54 p.m.
"Developers" are clearly unhappy, which makes me very happy.
tdw
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 1:51 p.m.
Could Ann Arbor give me some money for my 3 lots ? I promise I won't build another house or add to my 924sq garage
motorcycleminer
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
Sadly the small farmer is the one usually getting the short end of the stick ...In this case however EyeheartA2 has it spot on.. thanks to the stupidity of the chicken little mentality and the open pockets theory of $$$ management in Oz ,the farmers finally get the last laugh...if your going to buy property miles out of town why not in the UP...same difference ..the "not in my backyard crowd" con is a waste of $$$ ..instead of subdivisions miles from here they'll get windlessmills and solar panels in their backyards instead...you can't fix stupid...
Top Cat
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 1:28 p.m.
Many thanks to the taxpayers of Ann Arbor. By removing so many acres in Webster Township from potential sale, the value of my property has increased significantly.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.
Total waste of money. The farmers must be laughing all the way to the bank at what the granola eaters did this time. Total joke.
DonBee
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.
Yes, In Superior Township work is well underway to take productive farm land and turn it into Mosquito breeding grounds with shallow stagnant water covering large areas. West Nile Virus propagation will be that much easier with these large breeding grounds.
Ross
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
Don, that project is being done by Wayne disposal, operator of the big toxic waste dump down by willow run an I-94. They are getting wetland restoration credits form the state, and it has nothing to do with the greenbelt or land conservancy groups. That project is indeed pretty stupid and very ugly.
mermaid72
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.
Maybe you would rather have a oil pipeline the size of the Panama Canal cut thru old woods & wetlands like we have near Stockbridge & Chelsea!
bobr
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 12:29 p.m.
The people, the voters of Ann Arbor were forward thinking when they approved this. In good times and bad this land is being preserved to limit sprawl and give us some of nature or farming close by. Too bad it couldn't have been a larger, a broader plan but it was too late to complete the circle to the east, along the I-94 corridor.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
Ypsilanti, Detroit scare you?
Mike
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 5:09 p.m.
bobr - sell them your land and have them tear your house down..................anyone else feel the same way?
Steve Hendel
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
"This property is a very productive farm, and I don't like to see such property destroyed by development," Schultz said. "I think the best use for the property is to stay committed to agriculture. It gives me a good feeling to know that this will be farmland forever." With all due respect, it must also give him a good feeling to deposit those checks from the taxpayers. When you and I want to cash out some of our equity in our real estate, we have to sell it or mortgage it; either way, we are giving up something tangible. The farmer who sells development rights is giving up a purely hypothetical future benefit (payment for selling their land to a developer) in exchange for cash now. That farmer can now continue to do what he or she had always done-farm. Meanwhile, we the taxpayers, in exchange for some real (although largely unquantifiable) benefits, are paying them to do so. Plus, of course, we have zero access to the land.
Ross
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 2:32 p.m.
I agree, that's the problem, Steve. I think when you sell your development rights to the public, you should be required to create a small parking area and allow public access on to your land. Why should the taxpayer pay for fenced off land.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
Has anyone in the media ever gone in and matched political donation records to lists of people who have been able to "sell" these development rights to the city?
Halter
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 9:57 p.m.
Macabre....I don't think most taxpayers support this anymore now that they know what it is...at the time, those of us who knew it was a boondoggle were shouted down by the "we can be as green as Boulder" folks....that has changed significantly. I, for one, would like to see the whole Greenbelt think repealed by popular vote...all we need is to get it on the ballot, and it will go down in flames.
jcj
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 9:05 p.m.
Ross That kind of blind faith (or simple ignorance) is part of what got Detroit into the mess it is in!
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 8:46 p.m.
It's just a question. Whenever you have a program that creates winners and losers at taxpayer expense, and it's run by an elected body like A2 City Council, there's plenty of opportunity for corruption. These sales are windfalls for landowners. They get all the personal benefit of no development in their immediate area, some cash, and they don't have to pay taxes any more. That's quite a bonanza. I'm surprised that in Ann Arbor, home of the "screw the rich" mindset, that so many people support the notion that a large group of taxpayers should subsidize a small number of lucky rich people.
Ross
Tue, Jan 22, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
conspiracy! CONSPIRACY! IT must be! omg! ZOMG!