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By Matt Pelkey
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
The General Assembly is considering a bill that would provide greater state support to programs that help preserve working farmland.
Senate Bill 477. which passed the Senate earlier this month and cleared its first step in the House yesterday, would increase incentives to jurisdictions that purchase property development rights from landowners.
Under “purchase of development rights” * PDR'programs with the Virginia Office of Farmland Preservation, a county will buy the development rights to working agricultural land and place the property in conservation easement. The property owners who sell their land receive a lump sum of cash and the county restricts development. even if it is later sold, ensuring its preservation.
The Office of Farmland Preservation this year began offering matching funds to local governments that buy development rights from landowners under the PDR programs. The bill before the General Assembly, which is being sponsored by Sen. Emmett Hanger Jr. i R-Augusta K would expand state support by calling on the Office of Farmland Preservation
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