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Article published Oct 4, 2007 Implementation of farmland plan discussed
By Joel Davis of The Daily Times Staff
Gerry Cohn brought a lot of ideas about preserving agricultural land to local residents during a Wednesday workshop. Now comes the hard part — putting them into practice.
Cohn, Southeast States director of the American Farmland Trust, led a roundtable discussion about preservation techniques, such as the purchase or transfer of property rights and the establishment of agricultural districts, at the Chilhowee Club in Maryville.
“There are very delicate balancing acts going on,” Cohn said. “There are questions about how to mix public interest and private property rights.”
Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham, who attended the workshop, expressed his support for preserving agricultural land in the county.
“My vision is to achieve some kind of balance,” Cunningham said. “I certainly would support the goal of preserving farmland and green space.”
“We’ve talked about subdivision regulations that would require parks and green space,” Cunningham said.Finding the money
A county program for purchasing the development rights on agricultural properties to preserve open space is being discussed by the Blount County Growth Management Advisory Committee, but the sticking point has been how to fund it. Cunningham went so far as to indicate his support for initiating property transfer filing fees or increasing the property tax slightly to help fund such a program.
“I would support extra pennies on the tax rate to do that,” he said.
Cunningham said just mentioning the option would be controversial.
“You mention taxes and you get tarred and feathered,” he said.
Kathleen Skinner, chairwoman of the Raven Society, praised Cunningham’s participation.
“I was very pleased,” Skinner said. “I most especially appreciate Mayor Cunningham’s participation, input and perspective. The leadership he can bring to this county will be invaluable. As a community, we need to realize our precious resources, one of these is our agricultural heritage, and take steps to preserve them.”
Skinner said as a result of the workshop, Maryville College’s Center for Strong Communities would be heading up an effort to continue the discussion through establishment of a working group.‘Big subdivision’
William Minser, a Maryville resident and wildlife researcher at the University of Tennessee, said preserving open space in the county is important, otherwise “the non-Smokies is going to be one big subdivision.”
Minser, who owns 142 acres of undeveloped land, intends that his land should remain in one parcel through a conservation easement.
“I don’t care how much it’s worth,” Minser said. “My land will not be divided.”
Planning Commission Chairman Jim Scully said afterwards that the workshop was positive but implementing the ideas would not be easy.
“I liked it but to get other people to go along with it is another thing entirely,” he said. “How are you going to pay for it is the biggest thing when you can’t even get a $10 wheel tax established. I enjoyed the guy speaking but, realistically, who is going to pay for it? Everybody wants to keep the land. Put up the money.”
Scully also said the workshop is a good model for future collaborations for the betterment of the county.
“It’s nice to have things being done in a positive way instead of all this negativity,” he said. “It’s something to work toward the future. It’s crucial to have groups work together to help create good for the community. Everybody working together is something positive for the change.”