Property Search Continues

To have a farm school, you really need to have a farm.  That’s why  the search for a site is the most important item on our agenda.  Without the farm, we’re just a school.  And while a Montessori middle school is a great thing to pursue, it’s not the vision we’re trying to bring to reality.

Unfortunately, economics and Oregon’s justly famous land-use regulations conspire to make this perhaps the most difficult part of our development.  It comes down to zoning.  Rural land in Oregon is mostly zoned for farm use, and a school is not a permitted use in these zones. “What about a farm school?” we are often asked. It would be great if we could get county planners to see how our project is different—and we haven’t totally given up on that approach.  But so far it looks unpromising.  When statewide land-use planning was instituted in the 70s, it would have been perfect if the code had been written, “…except for a Montessori farm school.”  But it wasn’t. 

Rural zonings that do allow a school as a permitted or conditional use do exist—although they are thinly scattered around the area.  (The zonings vary by county, but include RR, RA, RRFF, and MUA-20.)  However, these zonings typically also permit residential use.  Naturally, this puts these properties into a different price bracket.  80 acres of Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) land might cost the same as ten acres of Rural Residential (RR).  This is the challenge we face.

Fortunately, the conditions that create the dilemma also suggest a solution.  The potential for residential use, while raising the price,  reduces the risk to a buyer.  The school doesn’t have to own the property—at least not right away.  We would be happy to lease from a sympathetic landlord.  That way, the “landlord” has a solid property investment, and the property could be resold if necessary. Such a property need not be large, since a small property for the school adjacent to a larger farm property could be a workable and affordable combination.

NWMMS has had some promising conversations with potential donors over the summer, and we are continuing to explore and develop possibilities. There are a lot of different ways this could happen, including a collaboration of  supporters, the transfer of development rights, or an agreement concerning the stewardship of a piece of property.  If any of these scenarios sound like they might work for you or someone you know, we very much want to hear from you.