OPEN SPACE IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY 2014 Suzanne McCarthy, South Jersey Land & Water Trust
Open Space Programs - DVRPC
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%
In DVRPC Area: 2013 Election (cont d.) 2) Shamong Township, Burlington Co. Proposed extending current tax rate for another 10 years beyond 2015. 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%
Open Space Programs - DVRPC
Municipal OS-FP Tax Gloucester County - 2013 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 $7,500,000 1993=.01; 2000=.02; 2004=.04 Yes Yes Yes Yes East Greenwich Township $2,280,000 (2010) $0.03 $180,000 1998=.01; 2003=.03 Yes Yes Elk Township $0.01 $40,000 2002 Yes Yes Yes Franklin Township $0.01 $81,000 1999 Yes Yes Yes Yes Harrison Township $8,900,000 $0.03 $794,000 1999=.01; 2004=.05; 2005=.04 Yes Included in OS Plan Yes Logan Township $0.01 $62,000 1999 Yes Yes Mantua Township $0.02 $156,000 2000=.01; 2004=.03 Monroe Township $0.02 $145,000 2003 Yes Yes Yes South Harrison Township $0.01 $40,000 1998 Yes Washington Township $0.02 suspended $515,000 2000 Yes Yes West Deptford Township 0.02 suspended Woolwich Township $0.03 $312,000 290,000 Yes 1998=.01; 2002=.02; 2004=.03 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cumberland County
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
Salem County
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 $0.0025 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
Atlantic County
Atlantic County Local Government Bond Tax or Annual Appropriation Atlantic County 0.02 Collecting $0.0025 Egg Harbor Township 0.02 Port Republic City 0.02 Weymouth Township 0.009 Cape May County Local Government Bond Tax or Annual Appropriation Cape May County No $0.01
The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania SUMMARY REPORT
Study Performed by:
Location of Case Studies
Quantifying the value. Open space creates economic value in four ways: - Home and Property Values - Environmental Services - Health & Recreation Benefits - Economic Activity
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
PerkiomenTrail Property Values - Average increase of $4,766 within a quarter mile
Hopewell Big Woods Property Values -Average increase of $8,270 within a quarter mile
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
Clark Park Property Values -Average increase of $45,879 within a square mile
Radnor Trail Property Values -Average property increase of $69,139 within a quarter mile -
Property Values Open space is a marketable amenity $449,900 Greythorne Woods Circle Wayne, PA 19087 This townhouse backs the Radnor Trail with a private entrance for your additional enjoyment.
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
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
SEPARATE STORMWATER STUDY Location of Sub-Watersheds Analyzed
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
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
The full report www.dvrpc.org
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 07945 Tel: 973-539-7547 Fax: 973-539-7713 Website: www.anjec.org 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, 2011. 1