Lowell family applies for land preservation; Township board approves

Jayson Bussa - Contributing Writer

1 Aug. 2025

The Lowell Charter Township Board approved a resolution allowing a local family to sell the development rights to their 190 acres of land and even pledged $5,000 to aid in the process.

On Monday night, during the board’s 30-minute regularly scheduled meeting, the board reviewed a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) application completed by Harold Metternick Jr. to the Kent County Agricultural Preservation Board.

The application requests that the county purchase the development rights for the 190 acres of land located at 5253 Morse Lake Avenue SE, to preserve it forever. Of the total land, 170 acres are currently being used for agricultural purposes.

Preserving the land ensures that, regardless of who owns it in the future, it remains open space and cannot be developed for other purposes.

However, the process is still far from over, and there is no guarantee that the county will approve the request. “I was on the PDR committee, at one time, for the board and this is one of the first steps, and it’s a long process to get anywhere,” said Trustee Carlton Blough. “If this happens, it will be a couple of years before it gets done.”

Blough is the board member who suggested putting up some money if the deal goes through. Pledging to kick in money, awards more points to the application, increasing its chances of being approved by the county.

Purchase of Development Rights programs are designed to support local agriculture by helping preserve farmland and keep agricultural operations in business. These voluntary initiatives offer financial compensation to landowners who agree to place permanent restrictions on their property that prevent it from being developed for non-agricultural use.

Landowners are paid the difference between what their property would be worth, if it could be developed, and what it’s worth as farmland. Independent appraisers assess the land’s market value, and the final agreement is negotiated individually with each farmer.

Even after the restrictions are in place, the property can still be sold, but only for continued agricultural use. The landowner retains full private property rights.