The farmcolony as a method of agricultural preservation in urban areas

The purpose of this study was to refine a method of agricultural land preservation known as the farmcolony. The farmcolony is a method of land development that combines residential and agricultural land uses in a planned environment. The basic concept of this type of project is to keep as much of the property's farmland as possible in permanent agricultural use and to develop the remaining portions of the site in residential and related uses. A further intent of the study was to show how the farmcolony method can be incorporated into other existing farmland preservation policies and programs and to propose new policies and programs that would facilitate the use of this technique.

Three general areas of study were used in the refinement process. First, a study to determine the nature of farm/residential conflicts was carried out to assist in the development of compatibility criteria for the integration of the two land uses. This involved a review of legal literature on farm/residential conflicts, a review of general literature on agricultural preservation, and a survey of farmers and residents in urban areas. The second study involved an investigation of feasibility analysis literature to help develop a procedure for determining farmcolony feasibility. The third study consisted of a review of a project in which the author was involved which attempted to develop a farmcolony in Sevier County, Tennessee.

To meet the second objective of integrating the farmcolony technique with existing preservation programs, a literature review of these techniques was carried out.

The result of the refinement process was the development of a model process for developing a farmcolony project. The model process serves as a step by step guide consisting of several components including: project location criteria, preliminary site analysis, land use map formulation, preliminary design program, feasibility study, final design, and project management.

The study also includes a discussion of how the farmcolony can be integrated into existing farmland preservation policies and programs and proposals for new policies and programs.