Citizens for Quality Growth (CQG) is formed in 1997 and launches a countywide educational campaign designed to inform others of how the loss of farmland impacts the entire county. 

CQG develops a presentation and visits nearly every local unit of government in the county.  They offer a compelling argument that the entire region, including our urban communities, is adversely affected by the loss of farmland and open space.

As a result, 24 (of 27) Macomb municipalities adopt resolutions in support of a countywide examination of the issue of agricultural and open space preservation.

In response, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners (MCBoC) forms a “Farmland and Open Space Preservation Ad Hoc Committee” in 2000 with a charge to develop policy recommendations.  Sensitive that the resulting recommendations could be politically charged, especially as related to land use and development trends, MCBoC approaches the issue from a economic development perspective. 

At this point, the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development gets involved to provide research related to the current economic impact of agricultural; how open space contributes to a healthy environment; preservation tools used in other communities; and also develops a model preservation ordinance. 

MSU-E - the educational arm of Michigan State University - offers a bevy of programs for the community.  Through their agricultural assistance programs, they assist by extending the research resources of the University to help get the project on solid ground. 

The resulting Macomb County Policy Recommendations on Farmland and Open Space Preservation is formally adopted by MCBoC in 2001.

MSU-E conducts a county-wide Citizen Opinion Survey.  It targeted ten northern Macomb County communities to gauge citizen opinion.  Nearly 42 percent of the surveys were returned representing more than 2,200 households in the target area.  The responses overwhelmingly supported the notion of farmland and open space preservation.  

Meanwhile, CQG is nurturing its alliance with MCPED and MSU-E and together the group discovers that in order to qualify for a rumored grant from the State of Michigan, it needs to secure the absolute support of its local communities.  They enlist the support of officials from the northernmost townships of Armada, Bruce, Lenox, Ray and Richmond.

A working committee – The Northern Five – is formed with representation from all.

It was critical that each of these communities formally accept the principles of farmland preservation in order to make way for an eligible PDR program.

Using tools developed through the Urban Cooperation Act of 1967, the group formally signs an “inter-local agreement” and sets about to enact the proper ordinances.

CQG essentially evolves to become the Macomb Agricultural Purchase of Development Rights Committee (MAPDRC).   By agreement, there must be representation from the five agricultural communities, farmers, residents and MSU-E.  As work to enact the proper ordinances gets underway, the group also focuses its attention on a series of informational workshops designed to educate the general public, and more importantly, local farmers about farmland preservation.

In 2005, the Michigan Department of Agriculture announces its first ever “Local Purchase of Development Rights” grant program.  MAPDRC works with MCPED and MSU-E to develop the grant application as well as proposals to both The Carls Foundation and Macomb Farm Bureau to provide required matching funds.

In 2006, Ken DeCock travels to Lansing with Justin Robinson of MCPED and Vern Kulman, MAPDRC President at the time for a hearing of the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund Board.  To their great delight, the Macomb application receives the highest score of all and is awarded $278,000.  The application is cited for its strength especially as it pertains to the partnership formed by the five local units of government.   MAPDRC is the only PDR Committee in Michigan that demonstrates an inter-local agreement of five municipalities.

Matching grants of $15,000 are provided by The Carls Foundation and Macomb Farm Bureau.

MAPDRC begins the arduous task of executing the first purchase of development rights on a local farm.  After a pre-qualifying screen of applications, the next big step was to get the property properly appraised by an approved appraiser.  The community in which the proposed parcel exists must also formally agree to hold the development rights for the property and adjust property taxes accordingly. As part of the agreement, the local government must also annually inspect the property to insure that it is being maintained as promised.

After several false starts, landowner George Montgomery of Richmond Township permanently preserves nearly 40 acres of prime farmland he inherited.