The value of the land after the development rights had been sold was zero, he added.

The money must go into a fund for buying more development rights.

"They should have known if the development rights had been sold to the county."

We have increased the number of opportunities to transfer these development rights.

The town could sell some of the land or its development rights and bring in new property taxes.

The company, which spent $40 million for the development rights, has been working on the plan since 1984.

But he says there is another reason farmers sell their development rights.

The fund is used to buy development rights and open land for preservation.

"I've seen all of this development right before my eyes," she said.

The developers said they paid $23.7 million for the building and the development rights.