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C tiA Page 6 farmland preservation report. July -Aug. 2002 Land trusts, land use briefs... planning together, (News panelsa ists In California... Two bills have been 1 introduced by.the California Farm Continued from page 2 Bureau Federation: AB 3057 would amend the Planning and Zoning nine counties in Northern Virginia's Piedmont region east of, and includ- Law to rename the "Open Space ing much of the Shenandoah National Park. PEC has been involved in _ Element" as the "Agricultural and anti - development battles that attracted national news media, including a Open Space Element" in county tangle with The Disney Company when it sought to develop hundreds of general plans. The bill would also require counties to adopt policies acres adjacent to the Manassas Civil War battlefield (Disney lost). and implementation measures that The PEC, which has 35 employees, is a powerhouse of activity, seek to avoid or minimize conflicts fighting new highway construction, power plants and other threats to between urban, open- space, and scenic, agricultural and historic resources. It lobbies for land conservation agricultural uses. Updated plans would also be required to contain and smart growth policies and programs. Not just mounting a defense of an inventory of the agricultural and the Piedmont, the organization actively promotes mixed -use development open -space resources in the at the Washington region's transit stations, and a smart growth plan for county, including all land in or Loudoun County that includes "reduction of development potential by suitable for agricultural production, and other land necessary for down - planning, re- zoning and conservation programs." It also promotes, aviable agricultural economy, and delivers easements to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, which holds including, but not limited to more than 100,000 acres under easement in the nine - county region. watersheds and drainage areas, Allison Mitchell of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation said it is according to CFBF policy specialist impossible for land trusts to stay completely out of local land use policy if John Gamper. AB 2630 could enhance land conservation is the goal. "Advocacy work has a nigher risk, but it interest in easement donation by also has a higher reward," she said. offering the benefit of an unlimited The NJCF is one of the nation's oldest conservation lobbies, beginning carry- forward period for qualified in 1960 when it succeeded in stopping a plan to build a major airport in contributions. AB 1997 would prohibit the the Great Swamp near historic Morristown. The effort resulted in the subdivision of agricultural and open state's first national wildlife refuge and the nation's first federally desig- space lands subject to easements nated wilderness area east of the Mississippi. It was instrumental in into small parcels. See the legisla- protecting the Pine Barrens through an act of Congress. tive website at leginfo.ca.gov. In New Jersey ...Burlington County Land trusts urged to lobby for tax incentive bills recently closed on its 100th farm with a ceremony in Medford. Days before the conference, the Senate Finance Committee approved Purchased jointly by Medford and increased tax incentives for land conservation. the county, the 98 -acre produce Russ Shay, public policy director for the Land Trust Alliance, updated farm cost $23,000 per acre. The county has now preserved 14,125 attendees at a lunchtime session on several provisions in the tax package acres. that could substantially increase easement donations. The new provisions In Maryland ... Gubernatorial would increase deductions allowed for donation and allow a 25 percent candidate Lieutenant Gov. Kathleen exclusion from capital gains tax for the sale of land to a land trust or Kennedy Townsend said in her public agency. recently released budgetary plan that she would deemphasize land Currently, a landowner can deduct the value of a donated easement preservation in favor of urban only up to 30 percent of adjusted gross income and carry forward unused revitalization as she continues Gov. deductions for five years. The Finance Committee package would allow Parris Glendening's smart growth programs. "Frankly, we are still deductions of 50 percent of adjusted gross income, and allow carryover going to sprawl unless we make for 15 years. It would allow taxpayers whose income was primarily from sure our existing neighborhoods farming and ranching to deduct up to 100 percent of income. are places people want to live," she Contacts: Russ Shay, 202 638 -4725; Allison Mitchell, 908 234 -1225; said. Meanwhile, the governor, June 26, awarded $21.8 million in Rob Etgen, 410 827 -9756; Dexter Mead, 540 347 -2334.