How is a voluntary farmland conservation agreement different from Williamson Act contracts?
A voluntary conservation agreement is a legally-recorded, permanent deed restriction placed on a specific property through the purchase of its development rights. Because the conservation agreement is attached to the deed, future owners will be bound by it. Removing the option for future development on the land reduces the land’s value, which results in lower property taxes for the landowner and can facilitate passing the farm on to future generations or selling the land to a non-family member.
