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Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty and Critical Environmental Areas

This goal manifested itself in the draft “Agriculture Element” proposed as part of Amador County’s General Plan Update. Under this proposal, owners of “farmland” or “ranchland” would be prevented from even applying for a general plan change—a right that owners of every other type of land would continue to enjoy. One of the proposed policies was written to “strongly discourage” the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) from approving annexation of “agricultural lands” by cities. So then what looks innocent on the surface is actually a proposal to lock up farm and ranch land preventing these owners—most of whom have worked for low wages and long hours—from being able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This Smart Growth principle is very unfair to these people, effectively taking away property rights. We must not forget that the United States Constitution has a simple solution for a government which wants to take private property: PAY FOR IT!

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