Farmland Preservation Program Permanently Protects South Phoenix Farm | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/environmental-programs/2312 | Environment & Sustainability | | 4/19/2022 7:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/2312/Newsroom _OEP_1.jpg | https://youtu.be/PhJde2VybfQ | Farmland Preservation Program Permanently Protects South Phoenix Farm | <div class="ExternalClass3629884468D74FC49455980C6DD20D14"><html>
<span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">A South Phoenix farm is now permanently protected from development thanks to the City of Phoenix’s <a href="/newsroom/environmental-programs/2224" target="_blank">Farmland Preservation Program</a>. The city recently invested $1,000,000 into the program as part of the Phoenix Resilient Food System Program.</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">Maya’s Farm, operated by Maya Dailey, is a 3.3-acre farm that uses organic and sustainable production methods. A mainstay at local farmers’ markets, the farm provides produce to local restaurants, engages in a Community Support Agriculture program and numerous educational efforts, and grows specialty vegetables, herbs, flowers, and eggs.</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">“Maya’s Farm is a gem in District 8, and I am relieved to see them permanently protected through the City’s Farmland Preservation Program,” Councilmember Carlos Garcia said. “Farmland within Phoenix is dramatically decreasing, and I am proud to serve on a Council committed to leading the efforts to conserve it for this generation, and generations to come.”</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">The farm sits on land owned by Bridget Bellavigna. By funding the purchase of the development rights from Bellavigna (with <a href="https://www.centralazlandtrust.org/" target="_blank">Central AZ Land Trust (CALT)</a> as the administrator), Maya’s Farm now has a conservation easement on it, which ensures it will never be paved over or developed.</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">Governed by A.R.S. 33-271, et seq., conservation easements are a voluntary contractual relationship between a land trust and a landowner whereby the landowner sells or donates their development rights while still owning the land. A landowner can get paid 60-80% of the full sale value of the property (based on a qualified appraisal), and the farm will remain in agricultural production and open space in perpetuity.</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">“In my opinion, it’s pretty much a win-win,” Bellavigna said. “We’re pretty much going to get appraised value for our land, for one. And number two, it allows us to help farmers help us.”</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">Bellavigna, who eventually plans to sell her land to Dailey at a much more feasible price, will still be made financially whole because of the money Phoenix paid her for the conservation easement.</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">“For many farmers, the dream of owning a farm is just that -- a dream,” Phoenix Vice Mayor Laura Pastor said. “But the Farmland Conservation Program, approved by the Phoenix City Council, is making that dream a reality. Many farmers would not be able to buy the land without this program.”</span><br style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Calibri;">“Losing our farms threatens the resiliency of our long-term food system,” said Rosanne Albright, Environmental Programs Coordinator for the city of Phoenix. “To protect our food system, we need to prevent urban farms from being paved over.”<br></span><span style="font-size:14.6667px;background-color:window;color:windowtext;font-family:Calibri;"><br>W</span><span style="font-size:14.6667px;background-color:window;color:windowtext;font-family:Calibri;">ith the success of having conserved Maya’s Farm, Phoenix and CALT will continue to engage with other farmland owners. Interested farmland owners in Phoenix should contact Sharma Torrens at agconserveconsulting@gmail.com.</span><br>
<br></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/oep | Video | | environmental-programs | | Environment | | | | #farming #sustainability #agriculture #PHX #Phoenix @CityofPhoenixAZ @PHXenvironment | Farming, Sustainability, Conservation, Agriculture | Spencer Blake | 602-818-6033 | 602-262-6822 | | | spencer.blake@phoenix.gov | | | | | | | | | PHXEnvironment | |