Throughout the state, valuable environmental resources and agricultural landscapes are threatened by development. To ensure suburban sprawl does not destroy their communities’ open spaces, some governments have created Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. Essentially, rural landowners may sell their rights to develop their property. A government agency or community organization buys the rights. The price of the development rights is determined by the difference between the value of the land if developed (the land’s residential or commercial value) and the value of the land held as open space. The buyer of the development rights does not acquire any rights to develop the land, but gains a responsibility to prevent development. A PDR program benefits local communities by discouraging sprawl development, which increases municipal expenses for building infrastructure to service new areas. It also helps preserve open space, providing additional aesthetic and environmental benefits. When used to preserve farmland, the PDR payment helps farmers expand their operations, pay off mortgages, or send children to college. The reduced value (original property value minus the value of the development rights) may also make the land more affordable to young farmer just starting out.