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immediately and Howard County’s agreement to make installment
payments of an additional $279,000 over a period of approximately
30 years (for a total sales price of $309,000). The bulk of the
sales price ($235,000) is to be paid at the end of the 30-year
installment period. Interest on the unpaid balance of the sales
price is payable at a minimum rate of 8 percent a year.
Land Preservation Program
Howard County acquired the easement pursuant to the county’s
Agricultural Land Preservation Program (the Program). The
Program is the county’s primary tool for preserving farmland.
Pursuant to the Program, the county purchases development rights
from landowners and holds those rights in perpetuity. The only
permissible use of land in the Program is agricultural use. A
landowner’s participation in the Program is voluntary. The
objective of the Program is to support the agricultural community
by helping to keep the county’s land base available for farming
and by minimizing the impact of residential development in
agricultural areas.
Prior to 1989, Howard County was limited in that, by law,
the most it could pay for development rights was 50 percent of
the fair market value of the subject land. In 1989, Howard
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Last modified: May 25, 2011