Washington County proudly promoting its rural preservation initiative
CLEAR SPRING, Md. (DC News Now) — Washington County has been seeing a development boom in the recent years.
But now leaders are making a concerted effort to protect 40,000 acres of farmland from the same fate.
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The area has seen construction of expansive new warehouses to compete in the e-commerce economy.
The new effort is modeled after the Maryland Land Preservation Act, which became law in 1980. It complements the federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and implements easements for permanent agricultural use.
“Out here you can see from one mountain to the other,” farmhand Abby Clark said. “To preserve this and to not have it developed is just amazing.”
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Chris Boggs is the rural preservation administrator for Washington County.
“Our first priority is to preserve open space to agricultural land for sustainability in the county,” Boggs said. “We want to curb growth that you sometimes see sprawling out.”
Washington County is accepting applications to grant permanent property easements for rural preservation until July 1.
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