Purchase of Development Rights Conservation Easements are the ONLY - PDF document

Purchase of Development Rights Conservation Easements are the ONLY way to preserve land forever Eric Keller Farm PDR’s – Do they affect land use decisions? • Zoning • Comprehensive Planning • Permanent vs. Temporary decisions • Preservation of “view sheds” 1

Preservation of view sheds. . . . . .what are they worth? 2

Will there be enough interest? Adams County’s 10,000 Acre Celebration May 19, 2002 Applications Received by Round Adams County Agricultural Land Preservation Program 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Rnd 6 1990 1990 1991 1993 1998 2001 3

Preserved Lands of Adams County 12,187 Acres Preserved (County program) 1,338 Acres Preserved (Land Trust) 13,000 Acres of Outstanding Applications Why would landowners want to preserve their land? • Financial Incentive 4

What is an easement worth? Fair Market Value $ 10,000 / Acre Farmland Value - $ 6,000 / Acre Easement Value $ 4,000 / Acre Pennsylvania Easement Values Range from $600 to $15,000 / Acre Adams County Easement Values Range from $1,025 to $ 11,400 / Acre Adams County Values Fair Market Value Ranges from $2,149 to $12,920 Agricultural Value Ranges from $960 to $2,000 / Acre Easement Value Ranges from $1,025 to $ 11,400 / Acre Easement Value actually paid Ranges from $1.00 to $2,637 5