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Established June 2, 1997
by citizens for citizens
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March 16, 1998
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August 13, 1997
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A beautiful part of southeastern Pennsylvania
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Open Space Commission - Introduction
The Open Space Commission of Charlestown Township was established by Township Ordinance on May 7, 2001. The Commission is an advisory board to the Township Supervisors. One of our principal goals is to assist and educate citizens and landowners in Charlestown about open space issues. Most of us were attracted to Charlestown because of its open space, farms and views. That love remains strong in our community. The Open Space Commission's objective is to learn how we can balance the need for preservation of open space against the very legitimate financial interests that our fellow landowners have in their property.
Developers are bombarding Charlestown's landowners with solicitations to purchase land for development. It is a myth of current land management that selling to a "maximum build-out" developer nets the landowner more money than a conservation plan. The Commission's desire is to help landowners devise schemes by which they can reap the financial benefits of their land asset and provide open space at the same time. We have discovered that there are many tax and estate planning benefits available to landowners who are willing to explore conservation in their long term plans.
We want all Charlestown residents to know that the cost of new residential development in terms of needed additional services far surpasses the amount of any gain to the tax base. Consequently, new homes drive up township and school taxes. For example, for every $1.00 of tax revenue realized by a community from residential developement, studies have shown services cost much more. (About $1.12., according to a study made by Bedminster Township, Bucks County, whereas open space and farms, on the other hand, cost only 8 cents for every dollar of tax revenue land in this use produces.) Similar studies by Penn State University reached the same conclusion. Studies by the Heritage Conservancy in Bucks County showed that the cost of new homes to the school tax burden of a community can be enormous, far surpassing the tax revenue generated. In the Central Bucks School District on which Heritage focussed, the Conservancy determined that over time the cost to the municipalitiy of purchasing the property and keeping it in open space was much cheaper than a residential development. In other words: open space "pays".
What attracted us to Charlestown was its open space. That love remains strong in our community and the commission's objective is to learn how we can balance the need for preservation against the financial interests of our fellow landowners have in their property. We have explored various forms of state and county funding including matching grants.
The Commission meets in the Choral Room at the Great Valley Middle School on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. The Public is invited - Please Come! The next meeting is August 15.
Objectives of the Open Space Commission
- To provide an organization that can serve the needs of Charlestown Township in the preservation, conservation and stewardship of open space;
- To identify and to provide assistance to landowners in the Township who wish to pursue conservation objectives in their long and short term plans;
- To actively educate the residents and property owners of Charlestown to the benefits of open space preservation;
- To assist the Supervisors in decisions regarding open space planning and acquisition;
- To establish an inventory of properties which are available for open space preservation through the purchase of development rights, donation, outright purchase or other means;
- To serve as liaison to conservation and historic preservation organizations and promote the services they offer, such as the French and Pickering Trust, Natural Lands Trust, Brandywine Conservancy and others;
- To work with the Parks and Recreation Department to better manage and improve existing open space areas and trails.
Members of the Commission include:
Andy Motel, White Horse Road, Chair
William Anderson, Charlestown Road
Alexandra Coleman, Green Lane
Frank Corcoran, West Valley Hill Rd
Priscilla Crowell, Charlestown Road
Robert Davis, Rosewood La
Aliena Gerhard, Newcomen Rd
Mary Ellen Joos, Tiptonbrook La
Bob Jones, West Valley Hill Rd, Vice Chair
Kevin Kuhn White Horse Rd, Twp. Supervisor
Saul Kun, White Horse Rd
Rosemary Philips, Hollow Rd
Bob Roggio, Eastwick Drive, Financial Sec'y
Pam Smith, Valley Hill Rd
Sue Staas, Hana Lane, Sec'y
Ed Theurkaupf, Planning Consultant
The Commission has held three meetings to date. The primary tasks of the Commission to date have been to organize, to self-educate, and to begin to set goals. To this end, officers have been elected and by-laws adopted. To date, Commission members have heard presentations from representatives of the East Bradford Township Open Space Commission, the French and Pickering Creek Land Trust, and the Chester County Planning Commission - and there will be more to come!!
As Andy Motel said in an interview with the Phoenix on July 30, 2001, "Our [The Commission's] goal is to create open space in a way that is financially fair to land owners ... we plan to make a lot of information available to township land owners [and township residents]."
The By Laws and approved Minutes of the Commission are posted on this website. In the future, minutes and information about Open Space conservation will be posted.
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