Agenda - 02-16-1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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As shown, the cropland base of the Township decreased in this period by 2,302 acres. In contrast, the pasture land base increased over the same period by almost 20%, or just over 500 acres. Overall , the combined total of cropland and pasture land in Cheeks Township declined by about 1 ,800 acres between 1955 and 1977, representing an 18% loss. Part of this loss probably occurred as a consequence of the construction of Interstate 85 through Cheeks Township. The three townships through which the Interstate was built lost an average of more than 26% of their total crop and pasture land, as compared to an average loss of 19% for the four remaining townships. Such major highway construction can cause farmland loss through both direct acquisition of right-of-way and through the commercial industrial and residential development that is stimUlated, by approved transportation access. The proposed widening of 1-85 to six lanes through this part of North Carolina, as well as the construction of the 1-40 extension along the proposed corridor will further upgrade the transportation access to regional population and employment centers from Cheeks Township. Growth resulting from these changes will create additional pressures for the conversion of crop and pasture land to non-farm uses, Population growth pressures, even without the addition of such major public projects such as new highways, are likely to promote the conversion of farmland to residential and commercial use. Dairying, which is an important use of Township farmland south of 1-85, is especially vulnerable to the pressures of non-farm development. Relocation of such operations is very clostl,y and often impossible.