Friends of Worcester welcomes you to a community presentation and discussion

1
Friends of Worcester welcomes you to a community
presentation and discussion

• WHAT IS
• WORCESTERS FUTURE?
• November 14, 2005

2

Friends of Worcester

• We are working
• To educate citizens and government
• To preserve open space
• To conserve Worcesters historic resources
• To protect our future

3
We know Worcester residents value open space and
look to a future that will preserve as much of it
as possible.
4
Why Is Open Space Important?

• Quality of life
• 2. Preserve Worcesters rural historic
  heritage for future generations
• 3. School taxes - control the increase

5
1. Quality of Life

• Open space feels like home
• We dont need more traffic
• Protect natural habitat birds, animals, fish,
  even insects
• Recreation opportunities
• Walking jogging
• Horseback riding
• Birding fishing
• Family activities

6
2. Preserve Worcesters Rural and Historic
Heritage

• We care about future generations
• Historic houses are our homes
• Working farms define Worcester

7
3. Control the Growth of School Taxes

• The average home in Worcester
• SENDS 0.8 children to school
• COSTS 8643 to educate 0.8 child
• PAYS 5475 in school taxes
• COSTS ALL
• TAXPAYERS (3168) each year

8
What do school taxes really cost us?

• A 50-acre farm could become 22 homes,

each costing taxpayers 3168 per year.
Thats a total tax burden of 69,696 each year,
from just one development!
9

• So preserving these 50 acres can --

Save Worcester taxpayers 69,696 in school taxes
each year. Avoid increased local taxes for
municipal services such as

• Police force
• Road improvements

• Sewer authority
• Snow plowing

10

• Its true what they say

Saving Land aves Money
11
The First Question --

• How much land is already preserved?

12
Protected lands in Worcester
Source friendsofworcester.org
13
Protected lands in Worcester

• State-owned land (Evansburg State Park) 144
  acres
• County-owned land (Peter Wentz Farmstead) 82
  acres
• Township-owned land 212 acres
• Permanently preserved land 404 acres
• Homeowner association land 133 acres
• Schools (2) 108 acres
• Churches (11) 173 acres
• Total permanently preserved land 404 acres
• Total protected land 852 acres
• Total preserved and protected land 1256 acres

14
So, how much of Worcester is already "protected"?

• Total preserved
• protected land 1,256 acres
• Total acreage
• in Worcester 10,773 acres

Answer Just over 10 percent
15
The Next Question How much land is already
developed?
Original watercolor by William V. Bourne
Fairview Village 80 years ago
16
Total area in Worcester approx 10,773 acres
17
The Pace of Growth Is Accelerating

• Population Growth in Worcester Township

18
Growth Projections

• Worcester is among the fastest growing townships
  in Montgomery County.
• From 2000 to 2010, Worcesters population is
  projected to grow from 7789 to 9580 thats a
  23 increase in 10 years!

19

• Lets look at the pace of
• housing development in
• Worcester over the past
• 5 years . . . .

20
Housing Development in Worcester

• Since 2000, over 600 acres have been developed in
  Worcester, adding 416 new homes and 1121 new
  residents to our township.
• In the last two years, 333 additional acres have
  been approved for development.
• 334 new homes will be built.
• Another 800 residents could be added to our
  population.

21
Proposed Development in Worcester

• Since 2003, hundreds more new homes have been
  proposed for development in Worcester.
• 400 additional acres could be developed.
• 484 more new homes could be built.
• Another potential 1200 to 1300 residents could be
  added to our population in the next few years.

22
Is This Worcesters Future?
23
Or is this what we want to see in our township?

• Merrymead a working family farm

24
What Do We HaveTo Work With?
Total area in Worcester approx 10,773 acres
25
Undeveloped Land in Worcester4831 acres
Can this be preserved?
26
What are our priorities?

• Last fall, you told us you would like to
• see Worcesters rural character preserved.

Farmland
Scenic roads and views
Historic buildings
Historic buildings
27
Here Are the Proposed Goals for Worcesters Open
Space Plan

• Preserve our most important
• open space lands.
• 2. Protect at least 50 percent of the remaining
  undeveloped land in the township.

How?
28
Identify protection strategies
29

• Own the Best

30

• Zone the Rest

31
Current strategies to Own the Best

• Outright purchase of land
• Donation of development rights
• Purchase of development rights
• Less cost money goes further
• Use state and county programs when possible
• Landowner still owns and controls the land

32
How Well Do They Work?

• Outright purchase of land is the most expensive
  way to preserve it, but it insures the most
  control.
• Donation of development rights depends on the
  generosity of landowners.
• State and county programs for the purchase of
  development rights are very competitive, and
  funding can be limited.

33
Current Strategies to Zone the Rest

• Natural resource zoning
• Provides some protection for floodplains, stream
  corridors, steep slopes, wetlands
• Historic preservation
• Depends on developers willingness to negotiate

34
How Well Do They Work?

• Natural resource zoning may protect resources
  from certain kinds of development.
• Historic preservation now happens only on a
  case-by-case basis.
• Public participation is limited.
• There is no protection against demolition of
  historic structures.

35
What are we doing in Worcester to preserve open
space?

• So, what more can we do in Worcester
• to preserve our open spaces?

36
Lets Continue Using What Has Worked

• Donation of development rights encourage more
  landowners to consider this option
• Purchase of development rights continue to
  apply to state and county programs
• Advantages of both approaches
• Landowner continues to own and control land
• Possible tax incentives
• Leaving a legacy in Worcester
• Natural resource zoning continue to protect
  natural resources

37
And Lets Take It Further

• Purchase of development rights
• Open space bond
• Dedicated earned income tax for open space
• Historic preservation ordinance
• To identify historic resources in the township
• To protect our historic structures from
  demolition
• Growing Greener conservation development
• Preserves open space and protect Worcesters
  scenic, rural heritage
• Gives the township a voice in planning
  developments
• Protects natural and historic resources
• Transfer of development rights
• Use where appropriate

38
How much land can we save with an open space
bond?

• Depending on the price of development rights,
  perhaps several hundred acres.

39
A Historic Preservation Ordinance Will

• Enable us to identify and catalog Worcesters
  historic resources
• Allow the township
• to plan the best way
• to preserve these
• resources when
• properties change
• hands

40
help prevent demolition of our historic buildings.
A historic preservation ordinance can
This spring house could still be standing.
41
help Worcester build villages, not strip malls,
in Fairview Village, Cedars, and Center Point.
A historic preservation ordinance can
Original watercolor by William V. Bourne
42
Growing Greener Conservation Development

• Preserves at least 50 percent of the parcel as
  open space
• Protects important natural resources
• Protects historic resources
• Allows the township a voice in deciding the best
  place for houses on the site
• Preserves trail and habitat connections

43
With Growing Greener, instead of this
We can have this.
44
So, What Might Worcesters Future Be?

• With an open space bond, we might be able to
  preserve several hundred acres over next 10
  years.
• With Growing Greener conservation development
  ordinances, we will be able to preserve as open
  space at least half of every parcel being
  developed.
• With a historic preservation ordinance, we will
  be better able to save our historic homes and
  villages now and for future generations.

45
How Will Preserving Open Space Benefit Worcester?

• Preserve Worcesters unique rural character by
• Insuring that farming continues in our township
• Preserving stream corridors, woodlands, and
  fields forever
• Protecting our water quality and groundwater
  supply
• Controlling the pace of development and
  population growth
• Limiting the growth of local traffic
• Control the increase of school taxes in Worcester
• We pay only for the students we send to school
• Fewer new homes mean a smaller student population
  permanently
• Maintain property values in the township

46
YOU can make a difference!

• Let your voice be heard on open space
  preservation
• Support our supervisors open space preservation
  initiatives
• Support Growing Greener ordinances
• Support historic preservation
• Support an open space bond
• Get involved with groups that are supporting
  these initiatives
• Friends of Worcester
• Worcester Historical Society
• Worcester Open Space Committee
• Landowners -- participate in preservation
  programs consider donating or selling a
  conservation easement

Talk to your neighbors Spread the word that
Saving Land aves Money
47
Thank you for listening!
Friends of Worcester

• Questions and Discussion