Media Contact:
Josh Block
jblock@clf.org
(617) 850-1709
CLF helped negotiate deal protecting this valuable agricultural resource
April 12, 2017 (RANDOLPH, VT) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) announced today that, along with the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Castanea Foundation, it has reached a deal with developer Jesse Sammis to sell valuable farmland off Exit 4 to local farmers interested in its agricultural value. This agreement comes on the heels of a decision by Sammis earlier this year to withdraw his controversial application for development on this land.
“Today’s agreement is a massive victory for all Vermonters who take pride in our state’s rich farming heritage,” said CLF senior attorney Sandra Levine. “When you pull off this scenic highway exit, you should be greeted by sprawling fields and colorful produce, not bulldozers and industrial parks. Thanks to the hard work of all parties involved, this valuable farmland will be back where it belongs – in the hands of local farmers supported by, and providing for, our communities.”
Under the agreement, Sammis will sell off 152 acres of farmland to the farming community. The agreement also includes an option for farmers to purchase the remainder of his property – an additional 22 acres – within the next two months. The Castanea Foundation will be responsible for facilitating these sales.
More information on CLF’s work protecting this valuable farmland is available here.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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