Ann Arbor spends $1.3 million to add 146 acres to Greenbelt

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor is throwing a lot more money at expanding its Greenbelt.

The City Council just approved spending $1.3 million to acquire the development rights to the Merkel-Heller farms in Webster Township, a few miles northwest of the city near the intersection of Joy and Zeeb roads. It's adjacent to land that has already been incorporated into the Greenbelt.

The city ($570,000), Webster Township Land Preservation Fund ($110,00) and Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (the rest) are all chipping in to make the purchase.

"It the most glorious farmland," says Peg Kohring, an official with the Greenbelt. "It's a very productive farm."

The city's Greenbelt Program has been on a bit of a spending spree as of late as developers and locals sell the development rights to land to the Greenbelt in this tight economy.

Voters approved the Ann Arbor's Greenbelt Program in 2003. The program collects a 0.5-mill millage for the next 30 years. That money is used purchase the development rights to rural land around the city, preserving and protecting open space, natural habitats and farms. The program has acquired the rights to hundreds of acres or rural land.

Source: City of Ann Arbor and Peg Kohring, an official with the Greenbelt
Writer: Jon Zemke