Deal to keep land for farming only

A Richmond Township man plans to sign a first-ever land deal with Macomb County this month to keep his property as farmland forever.

In exchange for selling development rights to 38.5 acres of farmland, Thomas Montgomery is to receive an undisclosed amount of cash -- the land's developmental value -- from the Macomb Agricultural Purchase of Development Rights Committee.

Selling development rights means future landowners can't use the property for something other than farming.

The committee is made up of representatives from Armada, Bruce, Lenox, Ray and Richmond townships, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners and the Macomb County Michigan State University Extension.