Braun Farm development rights to be sold to city, township of Ann Arbor

More land comes into the Ann Arbor Greenbelt, this time with a little back story. Excerpt: The city of Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Township have struck a deal to purchase the development rights to the 285-acre Charles and Catherine Braun farm, north of the city. The farm, located on the west side of Whitmore Lake Road, south of Joy Road, has long been eyed by leaders in both communities who want to preserve the open space along the scenic two-lane road. A federal grant through the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program will be used to pay more than $1.4 million toward the appraised price of about $4 million. The two communities will split the balance, plus closing and related costs. The city’s share will come from its greenbelt program; the township’s from a land-preservation tax. The property was at the heart of a plan to build 1,300 Ann Arbor homes – a project, dubbed Colt Farms, a number of years ago. Read the rest of the story here.