Cecil Land Trust News

 

AUGUST 2010-Peterson Easement 

Richard Peterson was interested in the permanent protection of his 26.64 acres of farm and forest land.  He chose the CLT Fair Hill Rural Legacy Area program because of CLT’s record for completing the easement work in a timely manner while meeting the grantor’s expectations.

The farm is in close proximity to the Little Elk Creek.  The 20 acres of farmland will be planted in grass for hay production.  CLT thanks Mr. Peterson for his dedication in helping protect CecilCounty’s future.

 

JUNE 2010-Stewardship Forum - What I need to know to keep the IRS Happy?

Saturday June 19^th, 2010

9:00am – 12:30pm

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, 600 Discovery Lane, Grasonville, MD 21638

www.bayrestoration.org

Click above link for directions

Why should you join us on June 19^th – or the first ever Maryland Conservation Easement Stewardship Experts Forum! Please circulate to your board members.

Apart from the threat of violations, there are serious issues that land trusts need to consider in designing and supporting monitoring programs. Join MET and DNR for this facilitated discussion on current practices, what the Land Trust Alliance has to say, what can work better, and did I mention free lunch?

We would welcome representatives from your group to help improve common practices, listen to your views and identify problems and challenges. Topics will include an overview of Maryland’s private and state conservation programs and their monitoring roles, how to evaluate your practices, protocols for a monitoring program, stewardship funding tools, explore a risk based approach and ways to share resources.

Email Beki here if you wish to attend. Thank you to those already registered.

 

MAY 2010-Agricultural Land Preservation in Cecil County

By Jill Burke and Nancy Valentine, Cecil Land Use Alliance

On April 20th, Bill Kilby, of Kilby Cream and President/Chairman of the Cecil Land Trust, spoke to the Board about agricultural land preservation issues in Cecil County.

Using a Planning and Zoning Map of all permanent preservation easements in the county, Mr. Kilby guided us through the mechanisms of establishing value and seeking funds for agricultural land preservation and creation of the easement document detail. A key piece of information is that some easements are purchased using sources such as the Maryland Agricultural Lands Preservation Fund (MALPF). Other easements are made as a charitable contribution which the owner can use to reduce taxes over time if done correctly. Each situation can be a little different to meet the needs of preservation and personal needs of the person putting his/her land in preservation. The key roles of the Cecil Land Trust are in identifying likely preservation candidates, prioritizing the lands for the MALPF purchases, facilitating and negotiating preservation agreements, and monitoring properties in preservation to see that the easement is being adhered to.

Currently, there is a backlog of 70 properties in Cecil County. The Eastern Shore land

Conservancy provides similar services in support of land preservation south of the canal.

Land values have gone down along with the current economic recession so the amount that can be offered is substantially lower in the current economy. To find ways that work to keep land in farming, the Cecil Land Trust is exploring a number of matching sources and working with County Commissioner Jim Mullin to identify those. There are funding sources at the federal level for protection of drinking water as well as agricultural land.

The Cecil Land Trust presented their ideas for continuing land preservation to the county commissioners in a work session on May 4, at about 11 am. These plans include doubling the area of Fair Hill Rural Legacy, moving westward along MD 273 toward Rising Sun and along MD 274 and making the business case that farm preservation provides greater value to the county than residential development. Farming has a cost of $0.50 for services for every $1.00 of taxes paid while residential service costs may be as much as $2.50 for services for every $1.00 taxes paid. Farming that supports on-site retail and appropriate processing can provide additional income to the farmer and local jobs. When combined with preservation easements that qualify for water quality improvement programs and are matched with federal programs, farm preservation becomes a good county investment in its own future.

Agricultural preservation is a way to preserve the character of the county as well as the agricultural jobs. Mr. Kilby’s discussion helped the board to understand how preservation is done and the issues surrounding it.

Follow-Up: CLUA had two members at the May 4, County Commissioners work session where Bill Kilby presented the Cecil Land Trust Plans. He was very clear on the lower cost to the county to serve agricultural lands than for any other type of development.

Steven McHenry, Executive Director of the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based

Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) joined Bill in explaining his organizations supporting role in the financing side. Marbidco arranges and promotes financing of projects that sustain farming, forestry, and seafood industries in Maryland. Steve Cochran, a young local farmer hoping to preserve his 68 acre farm on Blue Ball Road also attended.

Commissioner Jim Mullin offered the most support, including references to work going on at the state level, although all the commissioners seemed supportive of the concepts.