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could have whatever they wanted if they were willing to sell their land. He closed by saying that people who enjoy open space need to recognize and thank those who have preserved it rather than trying to figure out ways to get it without paying for it. Trish Rafalow said liked living near livestock. She felt that it was wrong that tax laws were set up such that farmers were penalized. Given that, she would like to live in a community with a more progressive tax system that put a value on preserving open space and working farms. Curtis Bane asked if she was suggesting that the power be put in the private sector rather than the governmental sector. She said she wasn't sure about that, but wanted to avoid situations that put residents (wanting to see open space preserved) in an adversarial relationship with land owners wanting to realize maximum value from their land. There was a brief discussion on the current tax system that assesses farmers four years back taxes on the development value of their land when they sell, more or less forcing them to sell it for development rather than farming ',purposes. Bob Strayhorn referred to Curtis Bane's previous comments on the next generation. He said most of the group's discussion revolved around a negative attitude on people moving into the Stoney Creek area. He said as much as he disliked growth, it bothered him to be insensitive to the; next generation. Things could be made so expensive and so exclusive as to preclude anyone from moving to the area he said,, but 'this was not his vision. He said he would encourage open, space and be willing to work with anybody to figure out ways to get it equitably, but he wasn't looking for ways to get open space other than by purchasing it or encouraging someone to donate; he didn't want it to be forced on people. Bane said there was a 21 acre tract with open space across the railroad tracks from him and the going price was $22,000 an acre with the average lot size being about two acres. He didn't know how many people would be able to afford property there. Lee Rafalow said he was a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and in regard to land values, he had observed that land closer to town had the potential of being priced lower. He also said land that is truly rural, k.e.,', north of Cedar Grove, was also going to be relatively inexpensive because it was far from the demands of growth. The land half -way between rural and in -town and was the target of considerable demand. He said it was a fact of life that land in the Stoney Creek basin area was expensive and would become more expensiver He felt it was difficult to make desires for diversity in the community happen without taking some very concerted policy steps and that meant essentially that government had to step in and make it happen, i.e., requiring developers to set aside a certain amount for low- income housing if that was what the community truly wanted. The market place would not do it. Meg McKean added that the market place would not preserve open space either. 9