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Open Space and Farmland Preservation
Preserving open spaces, such as farmland, parkland, forests and meadows, is an important, and often emotional, part of the smart growth planning in Northeast Ohio. As an industry that revolves around using land as efficiently as possible, home builders understand the aesthetic and cultural value of open space and farmland in this region.
The agricultural industry has changed over the years. With farming operations getting larger and more efficient and technological advances increasing production, it is not surprising that the number of farms in Northeast Ohio is declining.
The bottom line is that these decreases are not threatening our food supply. Experts agree that we are producing more now than ever before. Agriculture is not becoming extinct in the region; the industry is simply changing.
With this in mind, the question then becomes how can we balance the needs of the farmers with the need for housing developments and plan for the best use of the remaining land in the region?
Communities that wish to preserve farmland should do so as part of their comprehensive planning process while taking into consideration the increasing number of households in the region and the need for affordable housing. By planning ahead, the needs of farmers and home builders can be accommodated.
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