Bedner's Farm Fresh Market

In its Tuesday, July 21, meeting the county commission voted to extend the lease for 262 acres of farmland to Bedner Farms through 2043.

The family is nervous about the county’s continuing, incremental changes to the land use and zoning regulations. This is the second extension in less than two years requested by the Bedner family to protect its farming operations.

Developer-friendly commissioners have been voting for changes that have resulted in the loss of farmland and harvests to upscale housing developments in the Ag Reserve, primarily by mega developer G.L. Homes.

This latest extension gives  the Bedners the “legal right to farm as long as it remains economically viable to do so.” The extension to 2043 only happens if all 10 options for yearly renewal in the agreement are exercised. The county bought the Bedner’s farmland for $9.2 million more than a decade ago and leases it back to them. The purchase was part of a voter referendum bond of $100 million that mandated the county to acquire farmland for the purpose of preserving it. 

Commissioner Steve Abrams justified his vote by the fact that the Bedners have a commercial retail store that the public enjoys and “enables their farm to continue. ” The family operates Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market and seasonal u-pick fields.

Ag Reserve supporters protest rule changes resulting in loss of farmland and increase of housing developments

Meanwhile, regular citizens also worried about Ag Reserve loss. Grassroots groups held a rally outside the government center to draw attention to the commission’s public hearing Thursday July 30. The commission will vote on developer-friendly changes to the configuration of preserve areas in the Ag Reserve.

The change includes revisions to the Future Land Use Element provisions. It will make it easier for developers to buy land from owners of smaller parcels in order to build more housing developments in the Ag Reserve.