Open Space Committee
10 years ago, voters in Pound Ridge approved a ballot proposition to increase the general tax levy by $1 per $1,000 of assessed value, for 10 years, with the money to be used to buy open space areas. The levy raised approximately $3.6 million for the fund, about $2.5 million of which has been spent to preserve two parcels.
On Election Day 2010, voters chose to extend the levy for an additional 10 years and passed Proposition One. The property tax will be 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for the first year of the fund, and 75 cents per $1,000 for the second year. For years three through 10, the property tax would be $1 per $1,000.
Here is the text from Proposition One:
Shall the Town of Pound Ridge continue to make contributions to a capital reserve fund dedicated to acquiring ownership rights, easements or interests in Open Space areas, as defined in Section 247 of the General Municipal Law, and to maintaining and preserving those Open Space areas previously or hereafter acquired by the fund. Such contributions shall continue to be financed from the annual general tax levy for a period of ten (10) years, commencing January 1, 2011, to be phased in as follows: $.50/$1,000 of assessed value in 2011; $.75/$1,000 of assessed value in 2012 and $1.00/$1,000 of assessed value from 2013 through 2020.
What will the Town of Pound Ridge do with the money? After the 2000 open space proposition passed, the Town's Open Space Acquisitions Committee developed criteria and a rating system for evaluating properties, emphasizing the protection of water quality, wildlife habitat and community character, and the potential for passive recreation. The Town Board, Planning Board and Conservation Board reviewed and approved the criteria and rating system.
Acting on the recommendations of the Town Open Space Acquisitions Committee, the Town has used part of the fund to make two purchases:
In 2006, the Town contributed $145,000 toward the $725,000 purchase by the Mianus River Gorge Preserve of 11 acres off Long Ridge Road. The land is now part of the Preserve and the Town holds a conservation easement on the 11 acres, protecting it from development forever.
In 2007, the Town spent $2.3 million, combined with $600,000 from Westchester Land Trust, to buy 48 acres on Eastwoods Road. The land is now the Eastwoods Preserve. It protects the headwaters of the Siscowit Reservoir, keeps intact a key link in a regionally-important wildlife area, and provides hiking opportunities for Town residents.
Additional properties are currently being evaluated for potential acquisition, and the Open Space committee is preparing to make new recommendations for acquisitions to the Town Board.
Prepared by the Open Space Aquisition Committee
