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246 <br /> SIM PSON <br /> 5 <br /> COUNCIL. ON PAGES 34 AND 35 OF THE VOLUME ENTITLED "THE PROTECTION OF FARMLAND, <br /> A REFERENCE GUIDEBOOK FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS" THE STUDY HOLDS THAT WHEN <br /> SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IS INTRODUCED INTO A PRIMARILY RURAL AREA, A PHENOMENON <br /> CALLED "IMPERMANENCE SYNDROME" RESULTS. I QUOTE DIRECTLY: "THE REMAINING FARMERS <br /> -.. AND THEY USUALLY STILL 0•!N MOST OF THE LAND -- MAY BECOME CONVINCED THAT THE <br /> AREA IS INEVITABLY CHANGING. THIS 'IMPERMANENCE SYNDROME' LEADS TO A REDUCTION <br /> IN ONGOING INVESTMENT IN LAND IMiPROVE1ENTS AND FARM STRUCTURES AND INCREASES THE <br /> INEVITABILITY OF THE END OF AGRICULTURE . . . AS FARMERS SELL OUT, THEIR LAND IS <br /> OFTEN NOT DEVELOPED IM'ME'DIATELY. FREQUENTLY, IT IS PURCHASED BY INVESTC•RS WHO <br /> HOLD IT AWAITING THE RIGHT CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT. OFTEN THE LAND IS RENTEL <br /> TO OTHER FARMERS WHO CONTINUE TO FARM] IT. OFTEN, TOO, IT LIES .IDLE AND REVERTS <br /> TO SECOND GROWTH. IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT FOR EVERY ACRE DEVELOPED ANOTHER <br /> ACRE IS IDLED." THIS ESTIMATE CONS TO THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LANDS STUDY <br /> FROM THE REGIONAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PHILADELPHIA. <br /> USING THIS ESTIMATE, WE FIND THAT NOT 232 ACRES BUT TWICE THAT, <br /> 464 ACRES, WILL BE DIRECTLY AND INDIR.. CTIY REMOVED FROM AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION <br /> OR ITS POT NTIAL. THE BINGHAM TOWNSHIP PLAN (3.11-2 and "i_11-3, Table 3-15) <br /> STATES THAT BETWEEN 1955 AND 1977 THE CROPLAND BASE IN THE TCWNSHIP DIMINISHED BY <br /> 16%. ALMOST 1400 ACRES OF CROPLAND WERE CONVERTED TO NONFARM USES DURING THIS <br /> • <br />