Abstract:
Urban sprawl and the establishment of greenbelts to separate growing cities and
towns has become a popular topic of conversation among land use professionals.
Economists focus on urban growth in terms of land rents and have sought market
solutions such as transfers and purchases of development rights to slow this
growth. Land use planners have offered alternative solutions in the form of
conservation easements, land trusts and agricultural zoning restrictions. Few, if
any, studies have taken a balance sheet approach to the preservation of greenbelts
through strict market mechanisms. The value of fine wine has made the premium
wine grape producing area of Napa County, California a good candidate for
investigating how changes in agricultural and low density urban growth affect
community income and expenses. The premium wine grape growing area of
Napa County may offer a rare example of agricultural land rivaling urban land in
value This study will demonstrate the fiscal viability of preserving wine grape
production and related activities in Napa County through an analysis of urban and
agricultural growth and revenue streams to communities resulting from changes in
each land use. Scarce housing, rising land prices and economic growth, dynamics
attributable to an influx of wealth driven by aesthetic beauty and cultural
attributes, are manifestations of the popularity of Napa County and symbolize the
challenges facing agricultural preservationists.
