West Pikeland Land Trust
Michael Minnich - Chair
Thomas Kramer
Charles White
Kim Pavia
John Fiorillo
Wesley Williams
James Wenger
Lisa Karl
The West Pikeland Board of Supervisors formed the West Pikeland Land Trust in 1999 to encourage the preservation of township space and to hold easements in trust. Since then, WPLT has worked with local landowners, township officials, county and state governments, and other conservation organizations to preserve open space in West Pikeland.
WPLT has mapped all protected and at-risk township land; initiated a stewardship plan for township-owned properties; sponsored lectures by nationally known authors, city planners, and conservation leaders; and successfully initiated and promoted the township’s first Open Space Preservation tax referendum, making West Pikeland eligible for county, state and possibly federal grants to support open space preservation.
An all-volunteer organization and a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, WPLT’s work is supported primarily through private donations.
Meetings are held the 4th Monday of every month @ 6:30pm
The West Pikeland Land Trust next meets Monday, August 25, 2024, at 6:30pm at 1645 Art School Road, Chester Springs
The public is invited to attend.
The Open Space Preservation Tax
With the passage of the Open Space Preservation Tax referendum in 2007, West Pikeland now has a stable source of funding for conservation initiatives. As the Township-appointed Open Space Advisors, our role is to assess opportunities and recommend priorities for the expenditure of open space funds, plus meet with landowners, map properties, coordinate transactions and develop grant requests for matching funds.
Additionally, we continue our efforts to promote conservation in West Pikeland by creating a two-way dialogue with residents on local land use issues; expanding our base of members and volunteers; and continuing educational outreach through workshops and partnerships with other conservation organizations.
With the Open Space funds dedicated exclusively to land and easement purchases, WPLT’s initiatives continue to be funded almost entirely by private donations.
How Do I Conserve My Property
Steps in Conserving Your Property Through a Conservation Easement
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Initial Landowner Meeting – The WPLT will meet with you to talk about your interest and ideas and to answer any questions.
Property Appraisal – If you and the WPLT agree to work on a conservation easement, the WPLT will pay for an appraisal of your property. The appraisal format must meet particular requirements and may include a a yield analysis which assists the appraiser in determining the number of lots the property could sustain if developed. The appraiser will visit the property, take photographs, and prepare the appraisal. This process usually takes 1-2 months.
Board of Supervisors Meeting – The Board of Supervisors will meet to discuss the appraisal and whether township funds may be spent to purchase development rights and place a conservation easement on your property.
Follow Up Landowner Meeting – The WPLT will meet with you to discuss the board’s decision, review options, and discuss next steps.
Choosing a Non-Profit Partner – If the township provides funding for an easement acquisition, it will be co-holder of the conservation easement with a non-profit conservation organization that will be responsible for managing the easement. You choose the organization that will manage and monitor the easement, such as West Pikeland Land Trust, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, North American Land Trust, Brandywine Conservancy, or Natural Lands Trust, just to name a few.
Completing the Easement – The selected managing organization will prepare a proposal including cost estimates and will meet with you together with the WPLT to discuss. Examples of some typical costs include title report and insurance, property appraisal, legal expenses, survey, environmental assessment, and stewardship endowment. The proposal will become the easement agreement once all parties have agreed to its terms.
Grant Application – The designated organization will also prepare and submit a grant application to the state and county for funds to help cover the cost of the conservation easement. It may take several months to learn whether funding has been approved.
Tax Considerations – In lieu of full payment for development rights, donating a conservation easement or donating a portion of the easement’s value may qualify you for a tax deduction. You should consult a professional tax advisor for more information.
FAQs
What is a Conservation Easement?
A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement that allows a landowner to limit the type or amount of development on their property while retaining private ownership of the land. The easement is signed by the landowner, who is the easement grantor, and a managing organization, such as West Pikeland Land Trust, French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Natural Lands Trust, or Brandywine Conservancy, which is the party receiving the easement. An organization accepts the
easement with the understanding that it must monitor the easement yearly and, if necessary, enforce the terms of the easement in perpetuity. After the easement is signed and notarized, it is recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds and applies to all future owners of the land.
Why do people grant conservation easements?
People grant a conservation easement because they care deeply for their land and wish to protect it from unwanted development, but they also wish to retain ownership of their land. By granting a conservation easement a landowner is assured the property will be protected forever, regardless of who owns the land in the future. An additional benefit of granting a conservation easement is that the donation or sale of an easement may provide financial advantages to the
landowner.
What kind of land can be protected by a conservation easement?
IRS regulations require that the property have “significant” conservation values. This includes woodlands, wetlands, endangered species habitat, scenic areas, historic sites, and more. The West Pikeland Land Trust, which is the Open Space Advisor to West Pikeland Township, has its own criteria for accepting easements. At the invitation of a landowner, a West Pikeland Land Trust member will evaluate the property to determine whether it meets certain criteria, and discuss the details of a land preservation project.
What kind of financial advantages result from granting an easement?
Because eased property cannot be fully used or developed as zoning would permit, its market value is reduced. The easement holder may fully or partially compensate the landowner for this reduction in value by paying for the easement; or the landowner may choose to “donate” the reduction in market value to the grantee. The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction of the easement value if it is perpetual, is donated “exclusively for conservation purposes” and meets the IRS requirements for a “Qualified Conservation Contribution” under the Internal Revenue Code. The amount of the tax deduction is determined by an appraised value of the conservation easement.
What activities are allowed on land protected by an easement?
The activities allowed by a conservation easement depend on the landowner’s wishes and the characteristics of the property. In some instances, no further development is allowed on the land. In other circumstances some additional development is allowed. Conservation easements may be designed to cover all or only a portion of a property. Every easement is unique, tailored to a particular landowner’s goals and the conservation values of the land.
Can the landowner still sell or give the property away?
The landowner continues to own the property after executing an easement agreement. Therefore, the owner can sell, give or lease the property, as before. However, all future owners assume ownership of the property subject to the conditions of the conservation easement. The conservation easement runs with the land in perpetuity.
Does the public have a right of access to easement-protected property?
The public does not have access to property protected by an easement unless the original landowner who grants the easement specifically allows it. Some landowners do not want, and therefore do not allow, public access to their property. However a landowner might consider granting a trail right of way if the property could create a link to a local trail system.
Who owns the conservation easement?
Conservation easements are typically held by a government agency or qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization, such as West Pikeland Land Trust, Natural Lands Trust, Brandywine Conservancy, and French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust.
How long does an easement last and who upholds it in the future?
Conservation easements are “perpetual,” that is, last forever. The managing organization monitors the property, generally once each year, to assure that the easement is being upheld. (If the easement has been breached, the organization will take whatever steps are necessary to uphold the terms of the easement, including legal action.) Because of this obligation the land trust holds an easement endowment fund on each property. This fund may be established by the landowner or by the Township. This fund ensures long-term
monitoring and enforcement of every easement the land trust holds.
Who owns and manages easement-protected land?
The landowner retains full rights to control and manage their property within the limits of the easement. The landowners continue to bear all costs and liabilities related to ownership and maintenance of the property. The land trust monitors the property to ensure compliance with the easement’s terms, but it has no other management responsibilities and exercises no direct control over other activities on the land. However, the land trust may, upon request, offer management advice.
Does the easement have to cover all of the landowner’s property?
No, some easements cover only a portion of the landowner’s property, according to the landowner’s wishes. For example, if a landowner own 80 acres, the landowner may wish to retain the right to subdivide a few building lots. However, retaining development rights would most likely lower the value of the easement.
