Friday, October 2, 2009

New Protection for Land

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Central Huron
by Jon Meyer    

An agricultural easement, which protects a property from future development, was given to a family farm just footsteps outside of Goderich.

After three years of negotiations, the Hindmarsh property will become the first Huron County farm to be permanently protected through an agreement with the Ontario Farmland Trust.

OFT Executive Director Bruce Mackenzie says that means even if the Hindmarsh family sells the property, the woodlots and conservation areas would still have their own conditions the new owner would have to abide by.

The main condition is that the areas not be developed.

Owner Marian Hindmarsh can put to rest any potential pressures from developers wanting to build on the land -- which sits just outside Goderich Town limits -- on Central Huron land.

She says it was something her family wanted to leave as a legacy of sorts.

Marian's late husband John Hindmarsh was a strong advocate for conservation.

The OTF says the agreement sets a precedent for other farmland owners facing similar development pressures.