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11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
Impacts of Sprawl
-NRI 87-92 vs. 92-97 Conversions up from
1.2 Million Acres per year to 2.2 Million Acres per year
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
National Map
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
Conversions
American Converted 6,000,000 Acres from 92-97
(=~12Alabama Counties)
Conversions are a one time crop
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
Alabama Map
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Alabama’s Standing
State ranks 13th in total conversions 87-92 130,000 Acres (26K/yr) 92-97 315,000 Acres (63K/yr)
State ranks 10th in Prime Farmland losses to development
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
Top 20
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Growth Factors
Population Growth & Migration 0.96% population growth
Cheaper LandTransportation Corridor DevelopmentSpreading InfrastructureLarger Lots 2% / yr lot size
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11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
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Lot Size
1950’s Average < 1.0 acre / home site
1997 Average > 1.8 acres / home site
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Other Factors
Absentee OwnershipFarm Revenue decreasesOff farm employmentCheaper imports
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Cost of Community Services
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Services / $1.00 in Tax Revenue
CommercialFarm / ForestResidential
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Hidden Costs
Emergency response time increasesFire response time increasesInsurance (ISO) ratings decreaseSchool bus route time increases(Police response time decreased)
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Other Considerations
SmellDustSlow vehiclesChemicals
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Environmental Impacts
Farmland / Open land Storm water sponge Heat Island sink Air Quality buffer
All of these factors will have to be mitigated upon conversion
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Food Production
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Opportunity Lost
•Eco Tourism
•Heritage Trails
•MicroFarm Enterprises
•Anything other than Impervious Surfaces
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Help?
Land Trusts Up from 1 in the ’90’s to 7 in ’02
Farmland Protection Program $900,000
Forever WildThe Nature Conservancy
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Options
Brownfield redevelopmentGreyfield redevelopmentTax breaksMitigation Banks
11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture
Sloss Phytoremediation
