DOVER TWP. — A Farmland Application approved by the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners will preserve 159 acres in Dover Township for agricultural use.
The property owned by the Vanderhoff family, includes five parcels totaling 159 acres. The application was previously reviewed by the Region 2 Planning Commission, which recommended approval, and the Lenawee Conservation District, which found it to be in order.
Under Michigan’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program, a PA 116 agreement restricts non-farm development on enrolled land in exchange for tax benefits.
That means the acreage is now committed to long-term agricultural use and removed from future residential or commercial development during the agreement period.
County officials say farmland preservation helps stabilize the local agricultural economy and supports long-term land use planning.
With Board approval, the agreement moves forward under state farmland preservation guidelines.