A push to save small open space lots from development in Howard County has netted nearly 50 acres for preservation and with another 90 acres in the pipeline.
“It?s much better than we were hoping for,” said Meg Schumacher, executive director of the Howard County Conservancy.
A partnership between the conservancy and Howard County government launched last September to promote the preservation of lots less than 50 acres through easements.
In six months, 47.1 acres have been placed under permanent easement, so they can never be developed, and 90 acres are awaiting renewal of a federal tax incentive tied up in the federal farm bill, Schumacher said.
“It?s been wildly successful,” said Howard?s Environmental Director Josh Feldmark.
The program targets landowners who don?t want to sell the land to developers but that are feeling the pinch of property taxes.
Landowners can receive a federal tax deduction for the land donation, and the easement can reduce the amount of they pay taxes on, Schumacher said.
“Everyone that went into the program is excited about not having to develop the property,” Feldmark said.
Preserving these small lots from development aims to curb so-called bad infill development, which is squeezing new houses into existing neighborhoods. Neighbors often lament the burden on infrastructure and destruction of open space resulting from such development.
The smallest lot preserved was a 4-acre parcel with a stream next to Rockburn Branch park in Elkridge.
“It?s certainly more attractive to have land adjacent to land that has already been preserved,” said Ned Tillman, chairman of the conservancy?s board and the county?s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Board.
Howard budgeted $200,000 in fiscal 2008 for the marketing and initial outreach of the program, but officials don?t expect the program to cost that much in the future.
Next year, officials plan to market the program to attorneys and accountants who help residents manage their land, as well as reach out to more community and neighborhood meetings, Schumacher said.
