I wanted to share a recent article from the Chicago Tribune about land conservation. The reporter did a nice job of telling the story of what is happening in the region with regard to land trusts protecting land.
I have to take a moment to "brag" a bit about TLC's 2006 accomplishments that are mentioned in the article! According to the article, a total of about 620 acres were protected in the Chicago region last year by land trusts - well, 406 of those acres were in McHenry County!! Read on!
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Keeping land safe from development --forever
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By Dave Wischnowsky
Tribune staff reporter
February 20, 2007
As development crept closer, Searle and Sue Wadley began to worry about the future of 100 acres of plush forest and sprawling wetlands they own in north suburban Antioch.
They feared their precious acreage would rise in value until they or a future owner couldn't help but sell it, and it would be razed for a new subdivision or a mega-store's parking lot. So this winter, the Wadleys joined a growing number of private landowners and signed a conservation easement that will permanently bar development on their property.
They can continue to live there, manage the land and sell it to whomever they want, but no one will ever be able to pave their piece of paradise.
Critics say it's a bad idea to make any land-use decision for perpetuity, since today's landowners have no idea what issues will face tomorrow's citizens.
But with urban sprawl rapidly swallowing farmland, forests and wetlands in the Chicago region, conservation easements are the fastest-growing mechanism locally for preserving natural areas, conservation experts say.
"I think the word about conservation easements is just starting to get out there," said Lisa Haderlein of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County. "People in the Midwest are starting to recognize what they've known in other parts of the country for a long time: These are valuable tools."
By committing to easements, landowners give up a potential windfall from developers, but receive in exchange federal income tax write-offs, a reduction in property taxes and peace of mind about their land's ultimate fate.
In 2006 alone, officials say, more than 620 acres were conserved through easements in the Chicago area. North of the city, rapidly growing Lake County is a leader, having more than 2,000 acres protected with easements this decade.
Nationwide, the number of acres under conservation easements swelled between 2000 and 2005, from 2.5 million to 6.3 million, according to Jim Wyerman of the Land Trust Alliance, a Washington, D.C., group representing more than 1,600 land trusts.
`Pressure to sell'
"And it's continuing to rise," he said. "For some people, it's the only way they can afford to continue to run a working farm or ranch. There's just such high pressure to sell, and property values continue to rise on land with development potential.
"That's forcing some landowners to sell off slices just to pay their property taxes."
Some states, such as Florida, have heard complaints that conservation easements could stifle development on land close to urbanized areas, causing growth to spill into rural regions. Carol LaGrasse of the Property Rights Foundation of America in New York is against conservation easements. She said they "put a straitjacket on the future of farms and farmers."
"They tie the land up, and you have no flexibility for changing conditions," said LaGrasse, who warned people who agree to an easement to pay close attention to the details of their ommitment.
Until recently, by far the most common way to save open space in Illinois was for non-profit groups or the government to simply buy it. But officials say strategies have begun to shift. Limited money is available to purchase land, and private citizens are realizing that the power to protect land is in their own hands.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement through which a landowner continues to own property, but gives up the right to develop it. The restriction remains with the land forever.
Landowners can determine the restrictions placed on their property, officials said, but a conservation organization is required to hold the easement to make sure it is honored.
Started in 1970s
Although conservation easements have existed since the late 1970s, they only recently began gaining popularity in Illinois and other Midwestern states. That's in part because of a law passed by Congress in August that improves income tax incentives for modest-income landowners, officials said.
The law extends from 5 to 15 years the time a landowner can benefit from tax deductions that are based on the appraised value of an easement. It also raises the cap on those deductions from 30 percent of a landowner's adjusted gross income to 50 percent--and 100 percent for qualifying farmers.
The law applies only to easements signed in 2006 and 2007. But legislation introduced in late January by Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) could make the tax benefits permanent.
In addition to the federal income tax benefits, landowners see their property taxes shrink as valuations go down. Tim Girmscheid, of Liberty Prairie Conservancy in Grayslake, said an easement generally reduces the open-market value of the property by about two-thirds.
Illinois ranks 39th among all states with about half of 1 percent of its land protected by private entities, including conservation easements, according to the Land Trust Alliance.
In Lake County, where 24,000 acres of farmland are expected to be developed by 2020, the Liberty Prairie Conservancy has helped place easements on about 4,500 acres since 1977. About half of that land has been protected since 2000, Girmscheid said.
The McHenry County Land Conservancy completed eight easements covering 406 acres in 2006. That compares with 20 easements covering 255 acres over the previous 14 years combined.
The Conservation Foundation of Naperville, which covers DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, put four of its 17 easements into effect in 2006, on 120 acres.
In 1988, when the Wadleys bought property within sight of southern Wisconsin's Wilmot Mountain ski slope, the couple didn't imagine it would be threatened by sprawl so soon.
But since 2000, Antioch's population has surged from about 8,800 to more than 13,700, with ground already broken for more stores and residential areas.
So on Jan. 3 the Wadleys put an easement on the land where they live alongside more than 130 bird species, including the endangered sandhill crane and yellow-headed blackbird. Searle Wadley said that although the tax incentives are a benefit, "The big attraction for us is the perpetuity."
Girmscheid said property held privately under a conservation easement stays on the tax rolls, bringing in revenue--albeit less than if it were developed--to help pay for municipal services and schools. Land owned by non-profit environmental groups or government entities brings in no tax revenue. What's more, under an easement, private owners pay for any upkeep
to the land.
Because easements protect open space and keep the land in private hands, they are attractive to local governments and county forest preserve districts, where resources are limited.
Meeting goals
The easements can help local governments meet their goals for preserving open space without directly costing them money. The Lake County Forest Preserve District recently shelled out $14.5 million in tax dollars to buy 145 acres near Wauconda. By comparison, the Wadleys' 100 acres were conserved at no up-front cost.
"When you think about it, the federal and state governments can't possibly buy all the lands that have high-quality natural resources on them," said Dan Lobbes, director of land preservation for the Conservation Foundation of Naperville. "Conservation easements are another way to make sure that those lands are protected."
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dwischnowsky@tribune.com
Copyright (c) 2007, Chicago Tribune
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Open Space referendums coming
On Election Day in April, McHenry County voters will be asked to vote on two open space referenda:
- Nunda Township residents will be asked to support a Township referendum asking for $20 million to preserve open space in the township. This is the Township's second attempt at establishing a township open space district - their 2004 effort did not pass, but by a very slim margin.
This letter I received from Lori McConville at "Nunda Neighbors for Open Space" explains the effort quite well:
"Nunda Township Residents again have the opportunity to preserve some of the remaining open space in their township with the Nunda Township Open Space Plan and the Bond Referendum which will be on the April 17th ballot. Nunda Neighbors has organized to inform citizens of the benefits of the plan and to persuade a passing vote. We are asking for your endorsement to help support our efforts.
"As you may know, the measure did not pass in 2004, but came very close. It is our position that acquiring open space is an effective strategy for local governments to manage growth. The Plan aims to purchase open space parcels, 50 acres or larger, funded by a $20,000,000 bond referendum. Parcels have been identified throughout the township to achieve the Plan Goals and Objectives of groundwater protection, storm water management, farmland preservation, protection of high-quality natural areas, and to preserve our overall quality of life. The Plan will help protect home values, help control taxes, maintain the rural atmosphere that we enjoy, and provide protection for our groundwater.
"Some significant economic benefits from preserving open space include stabilizing taxes and reducing the need for community services. Local governments that protect the most open space enjoy the lowest tax rates. With the proper balance of open space in a community, fewer schools, roads, and infrastructure are needed, and therefore costs for maintaining existing services and facilities are more manageable. Open space also attracts businesses, as they look for high quality of life when choosing places to build, relocate and grow. Also, open space provides vital community services such as flood control and the collection and cleaning of water naturally without expensive filtration systems.
"Open Space is financially AND environmentally responsible, and we completely support and commend Nunda Township for “Growing Smart.” Please visit our website at www.nundaopenspace.com for more information.
"Open space doesn’t fill our schools or use our roads. It is quiet, controls taxes, and provides us a breath of fresh air. It is the perfect neighbor!"
The other open space referendum question will be put to all county voters by the McHenry County Conservation District, asking for $73.5 million to protect approximately 4,500 acres of land throughout the county. You may recall that MCCD last ran a referendum in 2001, where they were successful in securing $68.5 million in funds. Those funds have been spent purchasing approximately 7,000 acres of land in the county at sites ranging from Camp Algonquin along the Fox River to Glacial Park near Richmond and Ringwood, Brookdale between Harvard and Woodstock and Pleasant Valley between Woodstock, Huntley & Union.
MCCD currrently owns approximately 20,000 acres, or 5% of the land in McHenry County. While 20,000 acres may sound like a lot, consider this: in DuPage County, the Forest Preserve District owns 14% of the land in the county. Having driven through DuPage County many times over the years, I would conclude that they did not preserve enough land!
We're talking about the future character of the county, our water supply, and our health! Open Space is a great neighbor!
- Nunda Township residents will be asked to support a Township referendum asking for $20 million to preserve open space in the township. This is the Township's second attempt at establishing a township open space district - their 2004 effort did not pass, but by a very slim margin.
This letter I received from Lori McConville at "Nunda Neighbors for Open Space" explains the effort quite well:
"Nunda Township Residents again have the opportunity to preserve some of the remaining open space in their township with the Nunda Township Open Space Plan and the Bond Referendum which will be on the April 17th ballot. Nunda Neighbors has organized to inform citizens of the benefits of the plan and to persuade a passing vote. We are asking for your endorsement to help support our efforts.
"As you may know, the measure did not pass in 2004, but came very close. It is our position that acquiring open space is an effective strategy for local governments to manage growth. The Plan aims to purchase open space parcels, 50 acres or larger, funded by a $20,000,000 bond referendum. Parcels have been identified throughout the township to achieve the Plan Goals and Objectives of groundwater protection, storm water management, farmland preservation, protection of high-quality natural areas, and to preserve our overall quality of life. The Plan will help protect home values, help control taxes, maintain the rural atmosphere that we enjoy, and provide protection for our groundwater.
"Some significant economic benefits from preserving open space include stabilizing taxes and reducing the need for community services. Local governments that protect the most open space enjoy the lowest tax rates. With the proper balance of open space in a community, fewer schools, roads, and infrastructure are needed, and therefore costs for maintaining existing services and facilities are more manageable. Open space also attracts businesses, as they look for high quality of life when choosing places to build, relocate and grow. Also, open space provides vital community services such as flood control and the collection and cleaning of water naturally without expensive filtration systems.
"Open Space is financially AND environmentally responsible, and we completely support and commend Nunda Township for “Growing Smart.” Please visit our website at www.nundaopenspace.com for more information.
"Open space doesn’t fill our schools or use our roads. It is quiet, controls taxes, and provides us a breath of fresh air. It is the perfect neighbor!"
The other open space referendum question will be put to all county voters by the McHenry County Conservation District, asking for $73.5 million to protect approximately 4,500 acres of land throughout the county. You may recall that MCCD last ran a referendum in 2001, where they were successful in securing $68.5 million in funds. Those funds have been spent purchasing approximately 7,000 acres of land in the county at sites ranging from Camp Algonquin along the Fox River to Glacial Park near Richmond and Ringwood, Brookdale between Harvard and Woodstock and Pleasant Valley between Woodstock, Huntley & Union.
MCCD currrently owns approximately 20,000 acres, or 5% of the land in McHenry County. While 20,000 acres may sound like a lot, consider this: in DuPage County, the Forest Preserve District owns 14% of the land in the county. Having driven through DuPage County many times over the years, I would conclude that they did not preserve enough land!
We're talking about the future character of the county, our water supply, and our health! Open Space is a great neighbor!
Sunday, February 4, 2007
TLC Annual Meeting huge success
Nearly 200 people attended TLC's Annual Meeting on January 28th at Bull Valley Golf Club to hear speaker Orion Samuelson talk about the future of farming in McHenry County.
Guests included a number of county board members, municipal leaders from Woodstock, Lake in the Hills, Huntley, and Trout Valley. State Senator Pamela Althoff wanted to attend, but had to take care of a cold that day.
Attendees helped raise nearly $3000 at a silent auction and raffle. Silent auction items were donated by many local businesses, and were chosen to feature farm-related businesses in the county. Silent auction donations included: Joel & Linnea Kooistra: birthday party on their farm. Ken & Beverly Eriksen: red oak tree from their nursery. Prairie Pure Cheese in Belvidere: gift box with three varieties of locally produced cheese. Willow Lea Farm in Greenwood: gift certificate for natural beef from their farm in Greenwood.
The event included recognition of 2006 easement donors Walter & Madeline Bolger, who placed the county's first ever agricultural preservation easement on 69 acres of their farm south of McHenry. The farm has been inthe Bolger family since 1863 when Thomas Bolger acquired the land. Great-grandson Walter is the fourth generation of his family to work the farm, and while the land may one day pass from the Bolger family, it will remain forever farmland thanks to the generosity and courage of Walter and Madeline.
Recognition was also given to David Hall, Trout Valley Village Trustee and Alan & Jeanine Dammann for their efforts to preserve oak trees in the county.
Trustee Hall single-handedly took on Commonwealth Edison to get the company to utilize appropriate pruning practices when cutting trees in the utility right-of-way. They were spreading the fungus known as "oak wilt" by not cleaning their equipment between trees. Given that the county's oak resources have been depleted by 90% from the 1830's, any effort to reduce the spread of disease among remaining trees can make a big difference.
The Dammanns were recognized for the marvelous restoration they have done on their oak woodland in Bull Valley, and for their decision to dedicate the land as an Illinois Nature Preserve. The dedication will help ensure that the woodland (approximately 10 acres) will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Guests included a number of county board members, municipal leaders from Woodstock, Lake in the Hills, Huntley, and Trout Valley. State Senator Pamela Althoff wanted to attend, but had to take care of a cold that day.
Attendees helped raise nearly $3000 at a silent auction and raffle. Silent auction items were donated by many local businesses, and were chosen to feature farm-related businesses in the county. Silent auction donations included: Joel & Linnea Kooistra: birthday party on their farm. Ken & Beverly Eriksen: red oak tree from their nursery. Prairie Pure Cheese in Belvidere: gift box with three varieties of locally produced cheese. Willow Lea Farm in Greenwood: gift certificate for natural beef from their farm in Greenwood.
The event included recognition of 2006 easement donors Walter & Madeline Bolger, who placed the county's first ever agricultural preservation easement on 69 acres of their farm south of McHenry. The farm has been inthe Bolger family since 1863 when Thomas Bolger acquired the land. Great-grandson Walter is the fourth generation of his family to work the farm, and while the land may one day pass from the Bolger family, it will remain forever farmland thanks to the generosity and courage of Walter and Madeline.
Recognition was also given to David Hall, Trout Valley Village Trustee and Alan & Jeanine Dammann for their efforts to preserve oak trees in the county.
Trustee Hall single-handedly took on Commonwealth Edison to get the company to utilize appropriate pruning practices when cutting trees in the utility right-of-way. They were spreading the fungus known as "oak wilt" by not cleaning their equipment between trees. Given that the county's oak resources have been depleted by 90% from the 1830's, any effort to reduce the spread of disease among remaining trees can make a big difference.
The Dammanns were recognized for the marvelous restoration they have done on their oak woodland in Bull Valley, and for their decision to dedicate the land as an Illinois Nature Preserve. The dedication will help ensure that the woodland (approximately 10 acres) will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
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