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ens Page 6 of 11 <br /> UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, June 13 , <br /> 2003 (ENS ) - Researchers at Penn State' s College <br /> of Agriculture Studies have found that agriculture <br /> and and other land uses that provide open space <br /> increase the value of houses located within a <br /> quarter mile radius . Landfills and large scale <br /> animal operations lower the value of nearby <br /> homes . <br /> The researchers collected sales prices and other <br /> information on more than 8 , 000 Berks County , <br /> Pennsylvania, homes sold between 1998 and 2002 , <br /> along with information on nearby land uses . A <br /> geographic information system and statistical tools <br /> were used to analyze the data. <br /> Berks County was chosen because it is <br /> experiencing rapid development in its farmland <br /> areas and because data were readily available and <br /> the county has a mix of land uses and agricultural <br /> production. <br /> Open space, including forested acreage and grass , <br /> pasture and cropland located within a quarter mile <br /> of a house , had the largest positive effect on the <br /> value of that house , the study says . Large lot, <br /> single family residential land had a positive effect <br /> almost as large . <br /> Commercial, small lot single family residential, <br /> multi-unit residential , and industrial land uses <br /> were less favorable for nearby property values . <br /> These results can be used to predict the effect of <br /> land use change on nearby residential property <br /> values , says Richard Ready, an assistant professor <br /> of agricultural and environmental economics and <br /> co - author of the study . " This kind of information <br /> can be used by local officials to evaluate the <br /> consequences of planning and zoning decisions <br /> and efforts to preserve open space in their <br /> communities . " <br /> " Undoubtedly, there will be interest in applying <br /> the Berks County results elsewhere , " says co - <br /> author Charles Abdalla. " But until more research <br /> is conducted in areas with conditions that differ <br /> from Berks County, care should be used in trying <br /> to generalize these results . " <br /> htt,n • //Pnc - nPwcz . rorn /ens/iun2003 /2003 - 06 - 13 - 09 . asp 06/ 16/2003 <br />