Consider Conservation Easements

To the Editor:

Anyone who has lived in or traveled through Newtown regularly over the last few years has witnessed a change in the landscape: increased traffic and development, and a corresponding loss of open space areas. Those who moved to Newtown came here in part for its quality of life, including Newtown’s beautiful landscapes, hilltop vistas, clean water and air, varied recreational opportunities, a diversity of wildlife, and more. Without adequate open spaces these amenities are lost. And once they are lost, they are gone forever.

Newtown is a community that recognizes the threat of suburban sprawl but with broad-based private action and support we can make a significant impact. In recent years a number of community-minded citizens have placed conservation easements on significant portions of their land. Such easements are not only incredible gifts to the town, but they also have some financial benefits to the landowner.

There is an opportunity now, until the end of this year, for landowners to receive substantial tax benefits for the donation of voluntary development rights (also known as conservation easements) provided by the 2008 Federal Farm Bill.

This legislation — which applies to any tract of land, not just agricultural land — provides for federal income tax benefits, which then may result in lowered state and local taxes due to a lowered assessment on the property. Such donations can be one of the smartest ways for private land owners to conserve the land, while at the same time reap the benefits of lowered taxes, thus making it possible to maintain ownership and eventually pass on that ownership to their heirs, by neutralizing the impact of excessive inheritance taxes.

The Farm Bill’s provisions are scheduled to expire at the end of 2009, making this an excellent time to consider such an arrangement. To obtain more information about a voluntary conservation easement, call George Ferguson, vice chair, Newtown Conservation Commission, at 364-9915, or Newtown’s Land Use Office at 270-4276. Starting the process now will ensure that all details can be addressed before the end of the year.

Yours truly,

Mary Gaudet-Wilson

Newtown Conservation Commission

Whippoorwill Hill Road, Newtown                                June 16, 2009