By Ellis Preston | Arizona Capitol Times
With Arizona’s Ag-to-Urban program now offering farmers new means to trade in their irrigated land to residential developers, some have begun expressing skepticism over the program’s rules and effectiveness.
Ag-to-Urban officially went into effect on Sept. 26, allowing farmers to trade in their irrigation rights and sell their farmland to developers.
The program aims to minimize water use and expand housing opportunities in the state by providing farmers with a means to transition efficiently from farmland to residential land. That said, while the program’s purpose is to convert farmland and save water, some builders are frustrated with its practicality and question whether it warrants enough participation from developers.
Spencer Kamps, vice president of legislative affairs for the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, said, “It’s a new program. It’s a new way to build. It’s been completely untested before, and that limits the ability to put homes in the ground.”
