A county policy in Stanislaus County, CA requires housing developers to preserve farmland within the county equal to the amount of land they develop. The policy was declared unconstitutional last year, but three justices on the appellate court in Fresno, CA heard the county's appeal today.
Supporters of the policy contend that it aids in preventing sprawl and that farmland should be preserved because it is the county's primary resource. Opponents argue that the policy's applicability to only subdivisions is unfair because it omits other development such as commercial and industrial.
To read the Farmland Mitigation Program Guidelines, click here.
Posted: 11/17/10
