Photo by Rose Law Group Reporter
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Rohit K. Tripathi.)
Farms to sprout housing? “[L]andowners want to build new development in groundwater-restricted areas of Pinal and Maricopa counties by taking farmland out of production and acquiring water credits for it.” However, the “areas are currently under building moratoriums.”
But: “Arizona’s new ‘ag-to-urban’ program offers an alternative” — “landowners give up their grandfathered irrigation rights… in exchange for groundwater-saving credits,” which “can then be sold and applied toward certificates or designations of assured water supply for new construction.”
Heritage West in Buckeye “was expected to start in late 2023, but the moratorium forced it to stall.” With ag-to-urban, Forestar Group “can break ground this year and deliver homes in 2028, the company told The Arizona Republic.”
Rohit K. Tripathi, via a Wyoming company he manages, also “submitted an application to relinquish ag rights on 21.9 acres across the wash from the CEMEX Sun City concrete plant.” Meanwhile, “other applications are pending for projects near Maricopa, Queen Creek” and “Wadell.”
Riley Snow, chairman of Rose Law Group’s water department, tells RLGR: “The ‘ag-to-urban’ program allows much-delayed, much-needed development to move forward. It also allows farmers to effectively plan for the future. Whether they choose to keep farming or develop their land, the choice is theirs to make. To me, that is truly ‘good water policy’ for Arizona.”
