services to save our open lands
Land Trades
We can preserve open lands, while allowing development in more suitable parts of the city. This can be done on a 5 to 1 ratio. For instance, the Westminster Farm property was recently purchased by the Uplands/Varde group. Instead of converting this large open land area into high-density housing, the developers could instead "trade" this open land for vacant properties in the New Downtown, where high-density is truly suitable and where existing utilities such as water, sewer, electricity, etc. are already in place.
Conservation Easements
There is also an option to allow current large & undeveloped property owners the privilege of keeping their properties intact and not being forced to sell in order to cover large property tax bills. This is called a Conservation Easement.