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Open Space Commission - Minutes 04/24/02

CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
MINUTES: April 24, 2002

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, May 15, 2002, 7:00 PM, Great Valley Middle School.

This will be a business meeting from 7 to 8:30 PM.
 
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy Motel, Chair x, William Anderson x, Alexandra Coleman x, Frank Corcoran x , Aliena Gerhard x , Mary Ellen Joos x, Bob Jones x, Kevin Kuhn x, Saul Kun _, Rosemary Philips x, Bob Roggio x, Marcia Solda x, Sue Staas x., Ed Theurkauf x
 
Speaker: Bonnie Allen and Alice Hausmann, Willistown Land Trust
 
Guests: Michael Allen, Eleanor Allen
 
Andy Motel convened the meeting and determined there was a quorum.
Minutes for January, February, March 2002 were approved.
Andy announced the resignations (regretfully) of Priscilla Crowell, Bob Davis, Saul Kun and Thom Korber, because of time constraints.
 
  1. Marketing Plan was reviewed by Frank Corcoran
    1. Education of landowners and all residents is paramount
    2. Website is an important communication tool
    3. Newsletter is essential
    4. Resource Center is important.
    5. Sue Staas recommended that Frank's goals, as listed in the Marketing Plan, be formalized as a basis of Open Space Commission's action plan.
    6. Discussion of the goals and the action plan was put on the agenda for the April meeting.
  2. Definition of Open Space
    1. The Commission adopted the definitions of Protected and Unprotected Open Space as outlined in Linking Landscapes Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 - subject to final approval by the Township Solicitor.
  3. Newsletter
    1. Andy appointed Aliena Gerhard, Editor of the newsletter.
    2. Aliena asked that articles be emailed to her by April 30. Address is gerhard@netreach.net
    3. Alix will develop a Logo for the newsletter.
  4. Funding:
    1. Andy will author a Funding Report to be presented to the supervisors.
    2. Report will include sources for Open Space money, conditions imposed by grant or bond money, match needed from township, grant deadlines, etc. He will send draft to commission members for suggestions and editing within two weeks.
  5. Website:
    1. Alix will work with Jacob to make the Open Space portion of the website more evident to casual visitors.
  6. Prioritizing Open Space parcels: Bob Jones
    1. This is in process. Commission agreed to see the report from the priorities committee in June.
  7. Agenda for May Meeting:
    1. O.S. Commission Goals - Frank Corcoran
  8. Funding Report to the Supervisors - Andy Motel
    1. Website Report - Alix
    2. Newsletter - Aliena
Speaker: Bonnie Van Allen and Alice Hausman: Willistown Land Trust
 
Trust began in 1980.
They prioritized desirable land parcels and made dates to chat with landowners.
First donors were very brave - easements were new.
Love of the countryside was a motivator for everyone.
Importance of face-to-face conversations. Face to face is still the most effective tool.
 
From 1980 to 1996, they operated under umbrella of Brandywine Conservancy.
 
The Willistown Land Trust was officially formed, independent of the Conservancy, in 1996.
  1. Their first tasks were to publish a Landowner guide to conservation easements and a Priority list - red line map, showing Willistown properties, their size, environmental importance, location, proximity to other protected land, scenic views, historic significance, and the extent of the threat of development.
  2. They have developed a Form for recording pertinent information about each property: tax parcel information, all info re property and landowner - rating.
  3. Maps showing open space parcels and eased parcels have always been an important tool. Owners want to know what their neighbors are doing, and want to see how they fit into the picture.
In their second year (1982), 100+ acres came up for sale &, using a limited partnership (12 partners), they bought the land outright. At first, the Partnership bought the land and put easements on the land. Deductions then flowed through to partners. But then the partnership had to hold land for a period to keep IRS happy.
 
Now, a partnership buys the land, which they then resell to conservation-minded buyers, who then donate easements and take the benefits of the tax deductions.
  1. Because they are not associated with a real estate multiple listing, they can sell to whomever they want. Challenges: Stakes are so high - land values are so high! They get calls all the time from potential buyers.
  2. They use Timothy Barnard for legal counsel.
To facilitate partnership purchase, the Willistown Trust has two entities: 501C4 (public benefit) is the general partner and 501C3 (charitable), is the actual Trust which accepts easements, monitors the easements, and accepts cash contributions for administration.
  1. Annual operating budget is $300,000. They have a staff of 5. Bonnie and Alix take no salaries.)
  2. Fund raising: 2 letters for annual giving for operating support. Money raising is very time-consuming.
  3. They tend to overextend. Importance of admin ass't is incalculable.
  4. Land Trust Alliance is a fantastic resource.
The Trust is currently financing a partnership for Grace Estate. They have purchased a 55 acre preserve for $3m. The Preserve adds to value of the entire property - by helping with density. The entire 100+ acre Estate will support 7 houses instead of 195. This is their biggest and most complicated effort to date: they are working with two townships as well as potential private landowners, and their private partners.
 
In the 22 years of existence, the Partnerships have handled maybe 20 transactions.
A unit in the partnership is usually $250K; however, fractional shares are sold, as well. 1526 acres are protected by outright ownership by partnerships - over 5000 acres are protected by easements, which have been donated.
 
Donated easements are the best. The carrot is the significant tax savings against current earnings - and again in estate taxes, because the value of the eased land may be reduced compared to its value as a developable piece of land. The rub: the landowner must have sufficient income, so that the tax savings are real.
  1. The Willistown Trust makes extensive use of Trail easements; but they do not publish a trails map, nor are they required to..
  2. The Trust uses volunteers to monitor their easements, including the trails. No problem finding volunteers - interest is high.
    • There is an endowment, also donated, for each easement they accept.
    • Community is comfortable that Trust holds easement - on the other hand, monitoring is touchy with friends.
The Trust now partners with Willistown Township. Originally, Twp. was content to let them go their own way. Now with all the development interest and pressure, Twp. is involved. Referendum to raise $5M to fund easements, passed easily. Income from tax will service the debt for the Grace Estate. 81% in Willistown and 73% in East Goshen voted for it.
  1. Their educational process for the referendum was extensive and emphasized that Open Space Pays!!!
Bonnie and Alix referred to the Land Trust Alliance - over and over.
 
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Sue Staas
Secretary
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