Dykstra v. Department of Natural Resources

This is an action for a declaratory ruling concerning the validity of an administrative rule. The trial court granted summary disposition in plaintiffs’ favor, finding the rule invalid. Defendant appeals as of right. We reverse.

Plaintiffs, all of whom own farms, entered into development rights agreements under the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act, MCL 554.701 et seq.; MSA 26.1287(1) et seq. They seek to terminate those agreements before their expiration dates, presumably so that they can sell the land to private developers. Plaintiffs challenge the validity of a rule promulgated by…