Ann Arbor’s Greenbelt looking for more funds for more purchases

Ann Arbor is gearing up to make another purchase for its Greenbelt Program, but it’s going to need a little help to do it.

The target is the Braun and Gould farms in Ann Arbor Township. The combined 337 acres is located near the intersection of Whitmore Lake and Joy roads, and is considered a high priority for preservation by the township and the city. Applications to sell development rights have been received by not only the owners of those two farms but other landowners in the area.

The means to do this is via applying for a grant from the Federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program. That program, which has an additional $44 million available nationwide, can match 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the development rights up to a maximum of $5,000 per acre. Sale price is still being negotiated. The Greenbelt program has utilized such federal grant programs in the past to the tune of $750,000. This time the city is requesting $1.686 million in federal funds.

The city’s Greenbelt Program provides funding to preserve and protect open space, natural habitats and farms in the Ann Arbor area by purchasing development rights. The city acquires these rights from willing sellers who apply to participate in the program. Ann Arbor voters approved a 0.5-mill millage over 30 years to establish the Greenbelt Program in 2003. Since then the program has acquired the rights to more than 700 acres.

Source: City of Ann Arbor

Writer: Jon Zemke