OPEN SPACE IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY Suzanne McCarthy, South Jersey Land & Water Trust

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1 OPEN SPACE IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY 2014 Suzanne McCarthy, South Jersey Land & Water Trust

2 Open Space Programs - DVRPC

3 2013 Election In DVRPC Area: One new tax proposal for an amount up to $0.02 in Merchantville, Camden Co., was defeated Four questions about existing taxes: 1) Medford Township, Burlington Co. Proposed changing $0.03 tax to a range from $0.01 to $0.03. Approved 63.4% to 36.6%

4 In DVRPC Area: 2013 Election (cont d.) 2) Shamong Township, Burlington Co. Proposed extending current tax rate for another 10 years beyond Approved 70.5% to 29.5%. 3) Stratford Borough, Camden Co. Proposed increase of $0.01 in tax for youth athletic programs & maintenance. Approved 52.8% to 47.2% 4) Woolwich Township, Gloucester Co. Proposed use of Trust funds for development of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes. Approved 70.6% to 29.4%

5 Open Space Programs - DVRPC

6 Municipal OS-FP Tax Gloucester County Local Government Bond Current Tax Rate Estimated Tax Revenue/yr. Year Approved Open Space Plan Farmland Plan In GA Planning Incentive Prog In SADC Farmland Prog Gloucester County $38,000,000 (2009) $0.04 $7,500, =.01; 2000=.02; 2004=.04 Yes Yes Yes Yes East Greenwich Township $2,280,000 (2010) $0.03 $180, =.01; 2003=.03 Yes Yes Elk Township $0.01 $40, Yes Yes Yes Franklin Township $0.01 $81, Yes Yes Yes Yes Harrison Township $8,900,000 $0.03 $794, =.01; 2004=.05; 2005=.04 Yes Included in OS Plan Yes Logan Township $0.01 $62, Yes Yes Mantua Township $0.02 $156, =.01; 2004=.03 Monroe Township $0.02 $145, Yes Yes Yes South Harrison Township $0.01 $40, Yes Washington Township $0.02 suspended $515, Yes Yes West Deptford Township 0.02 suspended Woolwich Township $0.03 $312, ,000 Yes 1998=.01; 2002=.02; 2004=.03 Yes Yes Yes Yes

7 Cumberland County

8 Cumberland County Local Government Cumberland County Hopewell Township Upper Deerfield Township Open Space Plan Bond Tax or Annual Appropriation Farmland Plan In GA Planning Incentive progr. In SADC PIG progr. $0.01 Yes Yes Yes* Yes AA- varies Yes Yes Yes Yes AA- varies Yes Yes Yes Yes * County uses GA grant to fund preservation of properties that will be municipally-held

9 Salem County

10 Local Government Salem County Open Space Plan Bond Tax or Annual Appropriation Farmland Plan In GA Planning Incentive progr. In SADC PIG progr. Salem Co. $0.021 Yes Yes Yes Yes Alloway Up to $0.02; collecting $ No Yes No Yes Carneys Point $0.02 No No No No Mannington $0.02 Yes Yes Yes Yes Pilesgrove $81 million $0.03 Yes No No Yes Pittsgrove $0.01 Yes Yes Yes Yes Upper Pittsgrove Woodstown $0.01 (was $0.02) $0.01 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No

11 Atlantic County

12 Atlantic County Local Government Bond Tax or Annual Appropriation Atlantic County 0.02 Collecting $ Egg Harbor Township 0.02 Port Republic City 0.02 Weymouth Township Cape May County Local Government Bond Tax or Annual Appropriation Cape May County No $0.01

13 The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania SUMMARY REPORT

14 Study Performed by:

15 Location of Case Studies

16 Quantifying the value. Open space creates economic value in four ways: - Home and Property Values - Environmental Services - Health & Recreation Benefits - Economic Activity

18 Property Values For Sale: Three-bedroom colonial. Large yard. Near park. Open space helps sustain and improve home and property values. - Adds $16.3 billion to our region s housing stock - Increases all property values by $10,000 on average - Plays a vital role in preserving regional prosperity

19 PerkiomenTrail Property Values - Average increase of $4,766 within a quarter mile

20 Hopewell Big Woods Property Values -Average increase of $8,270 within a quarter mile

21 Peace Valley Park Property Values -Average increase of $35,155 within a quarter mile Photo courtesy of the Bucks County Dept. of Parks and Recreation

22 Clark Park Property Values -Average increase of $45,879 within a square mile

23 Radnor Trail Property Values -Average property increase of $69,139 within a quarter mile -

24 Property Values Open space is a marketable amenity $449,900 Greythorne Woods Circle Wayne, PA This townhouse backs the Radnor Trail with a private entrance for your additional enjoyment.

26 Environmental Services Clean air. Pure water. Dry Basements. Open space naturally protects property, filters drinking water, and cleans the air. - Saves $132.5 million annually

27 Environmental Services Clean air. Pure water. Dry Basements. - Water Quality & Supply Services save $61 million annually - Flood Mitigation Services save $37 million annually - Air Pollution Services save $17 million annually

28 SEPARATE STORMWATER STUDY Location of Sub-Watersheds Analyzed

29 Benefits of Protected Open Space for Stormwater Management If protected open space in 4 sub-watersheds is developed: Runoff in sub-watersheds would increase nearly 200 million cubic feet Capital costs for new infrastructure = $87 million Plus annual $2.6 million for maintenance

31 Recreation and Health Benefits Hike. Run. Bike. Camp. Save. Physical activity on protected open space saves $1.3 billion annually - Saves every household $392 on average annually - Avoids $800 million in healthcare costs - Saves $13.8 million in worker s compensation costs - Avoids $485.4 million in productivity losses

32 The full report

33 RESOURCE PAPER MIMI UPMEYER RESOURCE PAPER COLLECTION Open Space Is a Good Investment The Financial Argument for Open Space Preservation ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS P.O. Box 157 Mendham, NJ Tel: Fax: Website: By exploring and explaining the economic benefits of open space, this Resource Paper aims to help environmental commissions, open space committees and other groups in their land preservation efforts. Citizens can use this information to help sell the idea of preservation to local decision makers. In New Jersey, open space can be a breathtaking view from a mountaintop in Sussex County, an urban park in Newark, a suburban walking path in Morris County, rolling farmland in H unterdon County, a wildlife observation center in Gloucester County, a quiet garden in Trenton, or a sea of saltwater marshland in Cumberland County. Whatever form it takes, open space provides sustenance for humanity and all living things. In our densely populated state, we understand the urgency of open space preservation. Only about a million acres of land remain undeveloped, and the pressure on that land is great. Once developed, land is unlikely to be returned to its natural state. There are many reasons to preserve open space: To ensure the health and diversity of plant and animal communities, To prevent increased flooding caused by additional impervious land cover, To provide space for the inland migration of coastal wetlands as they are inundated by rising sea levels, To maintain New Jersey s thriving outdoor tourism industry, providing places to fish, swim, boat, hunt and hike, To protect the quality and quantity of our surface and ground water, To preserve agriculture as an industry, To provide opportunities to exercise and play sports, To avoid some of the costs associated with development, To preserve our connection with the natural world, and To provide tranquil islands amid the rush and bustle of life. B. PRETZ One of ten recommended placemaking principles for economic development in New Jersey: Preserve, restore and enhance open space, agricultural and recreational lands. The Governor s Institute on Community Design, NJ, Final Report,

The Status of TDR Implementation in New Jersey

The Status of TDR Implementation in New Jersey Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Task Force Task Force Meeting #1 December 2, 2009 How Does TDR Work? Courtesy: ANJEC The Promise of TDR Preserve natural