Agricultural Preservation Program Proposed Changes To Help Property Owners Protect Land

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — County leadership has proposed changes to Harford County's agricultural preservation program that will help property owners protect their land from development.

The proposed changes are based on recommendations from a stakeholder workgroup that included members of the public. Established in 1992, Harford’s agricultural preservation program pays owners of agriculturally zoned property not to develop their land. Funding comes from the county’s tax on property title transfers.

Bill No. 24-002 was introduced to the County Council proposing changes to the existing program that include:

• Expanding geographic diversity by including land in all zoning designations
• Reducing the minimum property size from 50 to 20 acres
• Adding bonus payments for land at high risk for development
• Adding forests, streams and woodlands to the ranking system that determines eligibility
• Including secondary benefits such as water quality and open space in decision-making
• Adding a timetable for efficient and effective use of funds and to align with state programs.

The bill also changes the program’s name to “Harford County Agricultural Land Preservation Program” to describe its purpose more accurately, supporters say.

“This legislation will improve the way we manage development and preserve land for future generations,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. "This was a model process for lawmaking that gathered stakeholders to discuss ideas and thoughtfully consider their effects. The process followed for the agricultural preservation bill stands in stark contrast to the bill expanding free-standing accessory dwelling units in residential areas, which was designed for special interests, lacked community input and rightfully generated pushback from constituents."