Twenty-six Acres of Farmland Protected South of Mount Vernon City Limits

Skagit County’s Farmland Legacy Program, with assistance from SPF and SPF donors, recently retired a development right and recorded a conservation easement on 26 acres of farmland immediately south of the City of Mount Vernon. SPF’s Land Protection Committee considered the 26-acres of farmland, owned by John and Sheri DeVlieger, under immediate threat of conversion, as there have been multiple proposals to annex the farmland into the City. The City of Mount Vernon itself was interested in buying the land as a location for its public works department. SPF’s Board of Directors has set as a priority the preservation of farmland along the I-5 corridor in Skagit County. “Protection of this 26 acres of farmland will reduce the City of Mount Vernon’s ability to sprawl onto Skagit Valley’s precious farmland and will alleviate development pressure and price speculation on farmland immediately south of the protected property,” said Bob Hart, SPF Board President and Chairman of the SPF Land Protection Committee. “Preserving farmland is important to keep agriculture viable especially for farmers like us that farm along the I-5 corridor where there is extreme development pressure,” said John DeVlieger. “We were grateful to be able to work with the Farmland Legacy Program and SPF to retire our development rights in order to protect and reinvest in our family farm.” SPF Executive Director Allen Rozema worked hand-in-hand with the DeVliegers and Farmland Legacy Program Director Kendra Smith over the past year to pull together appraisals and craft the conservation easement that will keep the farmland preserved in perpetuity. SPF’s participation in this project was made possible by the generous support of SPF members and supporters. At last September’s Harvest Dinner & Auction, SPF’s annual fundraising event, attendees raised $58,800 in 15 minutes to help protect this strategic piece of farmland. Two generous donations along with matching funds designated for land protection contributed to the success of this public/private effort to protect farmland. Skagit County’s Farmland Legacy Program funds the retirement of development rights on farmland with property taxes, which gives farmers an option rather than selling out to development. This latest protected farm acreage marks the third time that SPF has partnered with the Farmland Legacy Program to retire development rights, bringing the total number of acres protected by the partnership to 174 acres since 2008. Overall, the Farmland Legacy Program has protected more than 7,300 acres in Skagit Valley since 1997. “We value our relationship with SPF as we continue to team together to protect strategic farmland in Skagit County,” said Kendra Smith, Director of the Farmland Legacy Program. “Because of the partnership with SPF, we have been able to leverage public and private dollars to maximize protection of farmland from the constant threat of conversion as well as help farmers reinvest back into their farms and keep dollars local.” The SPF Board and staff would like to thank SPF members and supporters along with the Board of Skagit County Commissioners and the Farmland Legacy Program for supporting the preservation of Skagit farmland and keeping Skagit Valley farming. Thank you!