ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor’s greenbelt program has protected nearly 8,000 acres of farmland and natural areas outside the city since city voters approved it in 2003.

Now city leaders are aiming to expand on that by protecting more land in the Huron River watershed upstream of Ann Arbor in a new “bluebelt” district.

The city announced it’s now accepting applications from landowners in the bluebelt district who are interested in selling development rights to their properties and allowing permanent conservation easements to be placed on them.

City Council approved the bluebelt district boundaries in April 2024 with the goal of water quality protection since the city draws its drinking water from the Huron River.

The city’s Greenbelt Advisory Commission adopted a framework to finally

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