How the Dutchess Land Conservancy originally began

DUTCHESS COUNTY — In 100 years, if a family piles into whatever conveyance people will pile into on that future day, and meanders around North East, much will have changed from today, but some of the area’s most striking vistas will still be there.

Those elements of a never-changing landscape will be thanks to generous, forward thinking families and individuals who sacrificed development dollars for a guarantee of a well preserved environment for future generations to enjoy.

They, in turn, will have been helped along the way by the Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC), which, according to Becky Thornton, president, is “a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to preserving the scenic, agricultural and environmental resources in Dutchess County.”

Thornton proudly explained that  since the group’s formation nearly 35 years ago, more than 400 easements consisting of 42,000 acres in the county and 5,700 in North East are now under the stewardship of the conservancy, which operates with a staff of 12 and 28 board members. Those lands must be preserved “in perpetuity” according to plans worked out by the previous owners and the conservancy. 

As the demands of the constantly expanding metropolis to the south grow, Dutchess County acreage has increasing value as developers eye it for commercial ventures. 

But  at the same time,  property owners, some of whom are living on land that may have been in their family for generations, treasure and wish to preserve the area’s rural nature of farms,  forests and other areas. The lands provide sustenance and ecological balance, and so families sacrifice some future financial benefits to preserve it.

That idea, she explained, was behind the establishment of the conservancy when three Stanford residents were concerned about what would happen to their community if plans to develop three farms moved forward. To combat the change, two bought the properties outright and  a small group of others joined forces to purchase the third. Then, together, they took the bold step of creating the conservancy for the protection of the land and the future of the community. 

Thornton explained that the conservancy obtains the land it protects either by donation or by direct purchase with dollars coming from fundraising activities, foundations, individuals  and government agencies.

Following the transfer of an easement, a process that may take up to two years, the land itself continues to belong to and be used by the property owners, but the development rights pass from the owner to the conservancy — with no chance of reneging on the decision.

Thornton explained that by transferring development rights, families are making what can be a difficult choice and something of a sacrifice, and so it is one that must be considered carefully, often with input from all family members whose futures may be impacted. 

Financial benefit does come, she explained, when the owners receive a one time benefit either as a sale revenue, which is taxed as a capital gain, or as a  tax exemption from a charitable contribution. However,  the value of the land may diminish with development rights no longer attached. In either case, the owners continue to pay property taxes on the land.

Appreciating the area surrounding the village, Millerton Mayor Debbie Middlebrook said, “I feel that farming is not only is an integral part of who we are culturally and historically, but they provide us with a local resource for fruits and vegetables; something many people do not have. They also serve to provide us with the beautiful open space and landscape we enjoy daily. This may be a simplified and selfish opinion on the value of farms, but I feel we must do all we can to protect farms in our area. As I have seen posted so many times, without farms, there is no food.”

North East town Supervisor George Kaye noted, “I think people tend to move into the area because we are a more open area.  People are moving out of the city because they’re looking for something different, and this is certainly different from that.”

But considering both sides of conserving land, he said, “You always need agriculture. You’ll always need food. But you also need places for people to live. So there has to be a balance between the agricultural aspect, the need for that and also the need to have areas that are able to be developed.”

For more information on the DLC, including educational programs and a Sunday, Oct. 13, fundraiser, which will include lunch and a Birds of Prey demonstration, call 845-677-3002 or go to www.dutchessland.org.