Proposed Land Conservation Program

At its February 8 meeting, the Town Council will hold a public hearing on a resolution to formally adopt a Town Land Conservation Program.  The resolution was introduced at the Council’s January meeting.

The proposed Land Conservation Program, developed by the Town’s Environment Committee, will enable qualifying Town residents to give gifts of open space to the Town in order to protect that open space in perpetuity.  Such voluntary donations, which could provide tax benefits to the donor, would be done through conservation easements or other agreements under which the Town is the named beneficiary, or by conveying land in fee simple to the Town.

The objectives of the program include protecting and expanding Town open spaces and natural resources; protecting the Town’s distinctive neighborhood character; and maintaining the Town’s mature tree canopy.  Features of the program include an open space inventory that identifies certain areas in Town that lend themselves to being protected from development, as well as eligibility guidelines for the Town to accept donations of conservation easements or land in fee simple.  The guidelines describe to potential donors the conservation purposes of the program and give examples of types of properties that would be eligible for the program.

The full text of the Land Conservation Program resolution can be found here. If you are unable to attend the February public hearing to testify in person, you may submit comments by e-mail to townoffice@townofchevychase.org or by mail to Town Office, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, prior to the hearing date.  Please call the Town Office at 301-654-7144 for more information.