Conservation Tools

Handouts for workshop regarding managing open space in subdivision

Detailed checklist for managing conservation easement transactions.

Conservation Opportunities for Corridor Preservation & Community Development. Route 41 passes through or near nine communities that contain extensive prime farmland and is under threat from development. This is a buildout analyses for those communities impacted and assists municipalities who want to address increased land development pressures by quantifying the amount of development that current zoning would allow for a 20 year period from 2003-2023.

The focus of this edition of Case Law Review is the recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in C&M Developers, Inc. v. Bedminster Township ZHB, a decision which has proven to be difficult to fully comprehend or predict how it will be applied in future cases. In addition, this edition includes a review of the first appellate court decision dealing with the new “forestry” provisions in Article VI of the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), requiring all municipalities to allow timber harvesting as a use by right.

This article highlights three land use cases of interest. The first is from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, with the Opinion having been written by Justice Lamb just before his departure from the bench. The second is a thorough analysis of the types of issues that will not justify the denial of a subdivision or land development plan. The third is a classic example of what happens when municipal subdivision and land development requirements—here involving tree replacement—go beyond the bounds of reasonableness.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court during the last few years has taken a more active role in reviewing land use cases. 2003 saw the Pennsylvania Supreme Court hand down several decisions, coinciding as well with Justice William Lamb’s tenure on the Court. Three of the Supreme Court’s important decisions were authored by Justice Lamb during the final months of his tenure and these three decisions will be the subject of this Article. It is fair to say that while Justice Lamb’s tenure on the Court was brief, his insight into land use issues as reflected in these three cases is clear evidence that he well served the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during his term on the Court.

In Chester County, PA, between Route 1 and Route 30, Route 41 passes through or near nine communities with high development pressure that also contain extensive prime farmland, headwaters to five significant stream systems, and/or vibrant downtowns and villages. The Brandywine Conservancy used a cost of community services study to examine how potential development would affect the ability of local governments and school district to provide community services. In these communities, $1.17 was spent for every dollar received from residential land, $.05 spent for every dollar received from commercial land, $.02 spent for every dollar received for industrial land, and $.04 spent for each dollar received for farmland.

Guidance on establishing zoning regulations for non-commercial solar and wind systems that expands on the content available in the ConservationTools.org guide "Zoning for Non-Commercial Solar and Wind Systems."

This presentation focuses on easement recordkeeping and, more specifically, the six accreditation indicator practices of Standard 9: Ensuring Sound Transactions from Land Trust Standards and Practices. This presentation is beneficial for land trusts that are undergoing self-assessment or reviewing their recordkeeping practices. Session 3h of 2009 PA Land Conservation Conference

This document was developed by Brandywine Conservancy to share with prospective landowners and explain the many important legal and cost issues that a prospective easement donor should consider.

Provides basic descriptions of solar and wind energy systems.

Manual for gardening with native plants for the Middle-Atlantic region.

Presentation relating to zoning tools for land and water protection.

Conservation Opportunities for Corridor Preservation & Community Development. Route 41 passes through or near nine communities that contain extensive prime farmland, currently threatened by development. This repory dummarizes what is known about the relationship between roadway improvements and land use changes and iIdentifies some of the tools and resources that can be used to influence:

Manual which provides a basic understanding of transfer of development rights as a planning and resource protection tool. 84 pp., color and b/w plates.

Presentation regarding Transfer of Development Rights and implementation of TDRs.