American Farmland Trust: Issues & Programs

American Farmland Trust works to protect farmland and make sure farming remains a way of life in Ohio. Our programs, projects and advocacy have impacted communities across the state.

02/2007

Land-use May Be back on Ohio Agenda

Farm advocates in Ohio, as in other states with new governors, are hopeful that a new administration will embrace land-use policies that preserve farmland. Gov. Ted Strickland, who took office Jan. 8, made only passing references to farmland issues on the campaign trail in 2006, but when he did, it was in the context of broader land-use reforms. In fact, Strickland is the first Ohio governor in 30 years to talk about statewide planning policies. more

05/2006

Ohio Farmland Preservation Policy Updates

Legislative Update: State Biennial Budget, Historic Investment Tax Credit, Transfer of Development Rights, Impact Fees, Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program , Ohio Agricultural Security Area Program, Clean Ohio Fund and Sixth Annual Ohio Farmland Preservation Summit. more

02/06

Legislation Introduced to Create Ohio TDR Programs

Legislation was introduced in Ohio to give counties, townships and municipalities flexibility in crafting programs to transfer development rights (TDR) across jurisdictions. more

05/2005

Ohio Farmland Preservation Policy Updates

Legislative Update: State Biennial Budget, Historic Investment Tax Credit, Transfer of Development Rights, Impact Fees, Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program and Ohio Agricultural Security Area Program. more

4/20/05

Transfer of Development Rights Enabling Legislation for Ohio

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) is a mechanism that allows the right to develop to be severed from one parcel of land, and then sold or "transferred" to another parcel on which development is more appropriate. TDR can be used by a community to direct growth away from areas rich in natural or cultural resources (for example, prime farmland, riparian corridors, historic districts) to other areas where higher density development is desired. more

01/14/05

Ohio Gives Authority for Greater Oversight of Rural Lot Splits

Ohio Governor Bob Taft revised Ohio platting law by signing Senate Bill 115 on January 14, 2005. The new law, which will take effect in April, closes the "five-acre loophole" that has permitted lot splits over five acres to be exempt from subdivision review—resulting in a proliferation of 5.01-acre lots across the Ohio’s rural landscape and massive farmland fragmentation throughout the state. more

01/05/05

Legislative Update

Agricultural Security Areas; Subdivision review; General Welfare authority for counties; Clean Ohio fund. Read the Update [PDF].

12/30/04

Ohio General Assembly Authorizes Creation of an Agricultural Security Area

On December 10, the General Assembly passed House Bill 414 to authorize the creation of an Agricultural Security Area (ASA) program, which allows interested landowners comprising 500 or more acres of contiguous farmland to voluntarily enroll in an Agricultural Security Area for 10 years. more