FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE01-18
June
18, 2001
Contact: Geoff Ryan
(718/595-6600)
New
York City Acquires Conservation Easement In Ashokan Reservoir Watershed
Commissioner Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E., of the New York City Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that DEP's Land Acquisition
and Stewardship Program has purchased a 102-acre conservation easement on
a parcel along the Esopus Creek in the watershed of the Ashokan Reservoir.
"This easement is a public-private partnership that will provide permanent
protection for the streams, wetlands and buffer areas on the landowner's property
in the Town of Shandaken," said Commissioner Miele. "Under DEP's
Conservation Easement Program, owners are paid fair market value for the development
rights on their property. Since the owner of this land wished to maintain
it as undeveloped open space and also wanted to retain title to the property,
a conservation easement was a good option."
Protected by the easement are over 3,000 linear feet on both sides of the
Esopus Creek, over 1,000 feet of a tributary stream, plus extensive floodplain
and wetland resources. No further development will occur on the property,
including its open fields, and the landowner's family will continue to own
and enjoy this beautiful place. The property supported a fish hatchery in
the late 19th century, and the easement permits the landowners to restore
and enjoy three small ponds built by a great-grandfather of the present owner.
The scenic parcel has extensive road frontage and is close to the Belleayre
ski area in Shandaken.
Under DEP's conservation easement program, landowners continue to own and
use their property, but they forgo the rights to develop it further through
a sale of those rights to the DEP. Landowners who sell easements can also
continue economic activities such as harvesting hay crops and timber, provided
the activities comply with plans that are approved by DEP.
Commissioner Miele said, "The ability to harvest hay and timber under
easement is in keeping with the spirit of the 1997 Watershed Agreement, in
which the City recognizes the importance of protecting water quality in a
working landscape."
In addition to paying for the development rights, the City will pay a share
of the property taxes on each easement it acquires. The City's tax share is
determined by the percentage of full market value that the sold development
rights represent. For instance, if the removal of development rights reduces
a parcel's value as vacant land by 62%, the City would pay 62% of the annual
tax bill (in addition to the purchase price paid to the landowner). The percentage
of value is set by independent appraisers hired by the City, and differs based
on a property's specific characteristics, appraised value and development
potential.
Commissioner Miele said, "I want to emphasize that, as with all of
the City's watershed land acquisitions, conservation easements are purchased
only from willing sellers who want to take advantage of this unique program."
The City is pursuing additional conservation easements throughout the watersheds
of its reservoirs, both east and west of the Hudson River. To date the City
has secured over 32,000 acres of watershed land in fee, and anticipates protecting
additional thousands of acres through easements over the next six years. For
more information, or to receive an information packet on the City's Conservation
Easement Program, landowners can contact the Land Acquisition and Stewardship
Program at (800) 575-LAND.