The Macedon Farmland Protection Project, a joint effort of private, public and nonprofit entities, will receive the Uncommonly Good Award from the Common Good Planning Center, a nonpartisan program working to ensure livable communities and a thriving region.

"Our award to the Macedon Farmland Project recognizes the way federal, state, county and town governments, a local land trust, and several farmers came together to protect prime farmland from development," said Gordon Webster, Executive Director of the Common Good Planning Center. "Their cooperative efforts over the past few years have resulted in a commitment of $2.4 million for the protection of 2,000 acres of the best farmland in the region, and this appears to be just the beginning."

The Macedon Project becomes the sixth recipient of the Common Good Planing Center's award.

Land is being protected through the purchase of development rights (PDR). These legally binding agreements allow landowners to be financially compensated for voluntarily limited future development on their land. Landowners retain the right to farm and many other property rights. The easements generally restrict nonfarm development.

Instrumental in the success of the Macedon Project were: a survey that was conducted by the Town of Macedon to create a vision of what the residents wanted for their Town; the willingness of the county, the town and farmers to share costs of land appraisals; the ability of farmers in the area to weather tough times; and the Gananda planned community (formerly a HUD project), which provides clustered affordable housing, and reduces development pressure on farmers to sell off small parcels of land. Large blocks of land are attractive to those funding the purchase of development rights.

The Uncommonly Good Award, presented quarterly, recognizes initiatives in the nine-county Genesee/Finger Lakes region that contribute to the common, rather than to individual or partisan interest. Such projects focus on one or more of the following inter-related concerns: regional cooperation, economic development, environmental protection, land use, transportation, housing, employment, education, equitable taxation or community design.

Individuals and groups are encouraged to send nominations for future awards to the Common Good Planning Center, 34 Meigs Street, Rochester 14607. Nominations should include a one-page description and the name and telephone number of a contact person.

The Common Good Planning Center is a program of Rochester Area Community Foundation. More information may be found at www.ggw.org/commongood.