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12 Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities Strategy 1.b. Cultivate economic development strategies that rely on rural landscapes Purchase of development rights Purchase of development rights (PDR) is a voluntary program in which a land trust or other agency buys the development rights to a parcel from the land- owner. The landowner is free to turn down the offer or try to negotiate a higher price. Once an agreement is made, a permanent deed restriction is placed on the property restricting the type of activities that may take place on the land in perpetuity. In this way, a legally binding guarantee is achieved to ensure that the parcel will remain agricultural land, forest land, rangeland, or as open space forever. This is because the agency involved retires the development rights upon pur- chase. This strategy has become increasingly popular, particularly in the West: Montana, Utah, and Arizona have all established programs with state funding. 17 (See also: Transfer of development rights, Strategy Ld.) Conservation easements For any land whose conservation is in the public inter- est, a conservation easement (or conservation restric- tion) is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conserva- tion values. This tool allows the landowner to con- Communities looking to protect rural landscapes while cultivat- ing economic development have a number of resources in Vermont. The state has not only an active land trust but also an established agritourism industry, which emphasizes the state's agricultural landscapes and heritage. The Vermont Land Trust (VLT), which has been active since 1977, has worked to place 483,283 acres, or 8 percent of all privately held land in the state, under conservation easements. This includes 650 farms, most of which are dairy farms, reflecting the traditional agri- cultural heritage of the state! In addition, VLT has joined with other land trusts and affordable housing trusts to create the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust, which helps ensure that affordable housing remains available in Vermont's rural communities. The Vermont Farms! Association, which has 75 member farms, was formed in 1998 to promote agritourism in the state. It advertises an "out- of- the-mainstream" vacation experience, and member farms offer farm stays and group tours. Vermont tinue to own and use the land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs. There are tax advantages to landowners for donating conservation easements, including both immediate property tax and inheritance tax benefits. Conservation easements have been successful in many rural areas, including along the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin, where more than 90 percent of the riparian habitat on privately held land along the upper river is protected under easements.18 (See also: Tax credits for conservation easements, Strategy 1.a.) Vermont has an active agritourism industry. Agritourism can increase revenues by drawing tourists to stay in farm bed -and- breakfasts and participate in farming activities. Farms! hosts events throughout the year, including Sheep and Wool Week and farmhouse kitchen visits (during which traditional recipes are provided)? It is estimated that Ver- mont's growing agritourism industry resulted in an increase of $10 million in farm incomes between 2003 and 2005, and half of all participating farms report making more than $20,000 per year from their agritourism businesses (and half of those report making more than $70,000).3 In 2003, Vermont's governor declared September 15 Vermont Agritourism Day, illustrating the importance of agritourism to sustaining Vermont's rural communities. 1 Vermont Land Trust. "Farm and Farmland Conservation." http: / /www.vlt.org/ agriculture.htmi 2 Vermont Farms Association. http: / /www.vtfarms.org/ 3 The Beyond Organic Show. "Agritourism" http:/ /www.beyondorganic.com/ template /nst.php ?id = 081705 &idy = 2005 &sn =sn2: Vermont Farms Association. "Vermont Agri-tourism Survey." http: / /www.agmrc.org /media /cros /VT_ AgriTourism Survey_2003 2877B1D1E5E97.pdf a` 0 z 0 101