Farmland Preservation Program Permanently Protects South Phoenix Farm

April 19, 2022 12:00 PM

A South Phoenix farm is now permanently protected from development thanks to the City of Phoenix’s Farmland Preservation Program. The city recently invested $1,000,000 into the program as part of the Phoenix Resilient Food System Program.

Maya’s Farm, operated by Maya Dailey, is a 3.3-acre farm that uses organic and sustainable production methods. A mainstay at local farmers’ markets, the farm provides produce to local restaurants, engages in a Community Support Agriculture program and numerous educational efforts, and grows specialty vegetables, herbs, flowers, and eggs.

“Maya’s Farm is a gem in District 8, and I am relieved to see them permanently protected through the City’s Farmland Preservation Program,” Councilmember Carlos Garcia said. “Farmland within Phoenix is dramatically decreasing, and I am proud to serve on a Council committed to leading the efforts to conserve it for this generation, and generations to come.”

The farm sits on land owned by Bridget Bellavigna. By funding the purchase of the development rights from Bellavigna (with Central AZ Land Trust (CALT) as the administrator), Maya’s Farm now has a conservation easement on it, which ensures it will never be paved over or developed.

Governed by A.R.S. 33-271, et seq., conservation easements are a voluntary contractual relationship between a land trust and a landowner whereby the landowner sells or donates their development rights while still owning the land. A landowner can get paid 60-80% of the full sale value of the property (based on a qualified appraisal), and the farm will remain in agricultural production and open space in perpetuity.

“In my opinion, it’s pretty much a win-win,” Bellavigna said. “We’re pretty much going to get appraised value for our land, for one. And number two, it allows us to help farmers help us.”

Bellavigna, who eventually plans to sell her land to Dailey at a much more feasible price, will still be made financially whole because of the money Phoenix paid her for the conservation easement.

“For many farmers, the dream of owning a farm is just that -- a dream,” Phoenix Vice Mayor Laura Pastor said. “But the Farmland Conservation Program, approved by the Phoenix City Council, is making that dream a reality. Many farmers would not be able to buy the land without this program.”
“Losing our farms threatens the resiliency of our long-term food system,” said Rosanne Albright, Environmental Programs Coordinator for the city of Phoenix. “To protect our food system, we need to prevent urban farms from being paved over.”

With the success of having conserved Maya’s Farm, Phoenix and CALT will continue to engage with other farmland owners. Interested farmland owners in Phoenix should contact Sharma Torrens at agconserveconsulting@gmail.com.