News

Mills River puts up $500,000 to seed farmland preservation program

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 19, 2023

MILLS RIVER — The town of Mills River recently established a land preservation program designed to protect and preserve the Mills River community.

Using a portion of the town’s American Rescue Plan funding, the town council appropriated $500,000 for the efforts.
Following recommendations adopted in the town’s 2040 comprehensive plan, which emphasized farmland preservation, town council created a land preservation committee in May. The sole purpose of the group was to develop a voluntary program whereby the town can serve as a partner in the establishment of conservation easements within the town’s limits. While the program is available to many different land uses, the highest priority is preserving farmland.
A champion of land protection and preservation efforts for many years, Mayor Pro Tem Randy Austin served as the chair of this committee. Along with the Planning Board, Agricultural Advisory Board and the Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee, Austin and fellow council member James Cantrell guided the effort.
“I would like to thank all of our committee members and the Mills River Town Council for their efforts in developing this program," Austin said, adding that Mills River's initiative "may encourage Henderson County to explore something similar which could be applied countywide.”
The town expressed gratitude for the support and guidance from the North Carolina Farmland Preservation Program, Conserving Carolina and the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation office, all of whom shared their experience in land preservation and worked with the committee to identify goals and expectations.