Open Space Acquisition

The City of Shelton preserves conservation lands using several different methods:

Subdivision regulations:  Developers are required to donate a minimum of 10% of their land to the City for public open space. Alternatively, they may donate a fee in lieu of open space, which is deposited in the Open Space Trust Account to be used to purchase open space.   Under the 2006 Plan of Conservation and Development, the subdivision regulations will be changed to require a 15% donation.

Alternative PRD and CRD developments may be used to increase the percentage of open space preserved.  The PRD (Planned Residential District) allows for a density bonus, while the CRD (Conservation Residential District) does not.  Both alternatives allow for reduced set-backs, reduced lot sizes, and other variances from standard subdivision regulations, which may reduce the costs of developing a site.

Conservation easements are often required as conditions of approval to buffer existing homes from new development, to protect natural resources, or to buffer City open space properties.  In such cases the CIty does not own the land, but does own an easement over that land that precludes building, cutting or filling.

Purchase "in Fee"
The City maintains an Open Space Trust Account that is used for the purchase of open space, and which is funded by the City at a rate of $250,000 per year. 

Larger open space purchases are funded directly by the Board of Aldermen via the bond process.    These purchases may require a referendum, which have always passed by a wide margin as shown in the table below. 

Purchase of Development Rights
Often used for farmland preservation, this preservation technique allows the landowner to continue to own and farm the property, while ensuring that it is not subdivided into housing tracts.   This strategy provides the maximum economic benefit for taxpayers because there are no CIty maintenance costs associated with the property, the landowner continues to pay taxes on the farm business, and City expenses for schools, sewers and road that would have been required by a new development are prevented.  There are currently eight properties in Shelton that have been preserved using this technique, all located in the White Hills.  These include Jones Family Farm, Shelton Family Farm, Beardsley Organic Farm, and Stockmal Woods.

Donation
Property owners may donate land or conservation easments to the City or to the Shelton Land Conservation Trust (a private organization).  In some cases, landowners effectively donate a portion of the value of the land they are selling by reducing the sale price.  Jones Family Farm, for example, reduced their purchase price by 25%.  Donations may be tax deductible.  Properties may be deed restricted to ensure they are preserved as conservation lands.

Prioritizing Land Purchases
The Board of Aldermen determine all open space purchases, with input provided by the Conservation Commission.  The Commission ranks all potential purchases based on factors such as whether the land is:

• located within one of the City's conceptual greenways, as defined in the Open Space Plan
• adjacent to existing open space
• allows for trail linkage
• contains unusual natural resources or ecosystems (rock formations, tidal wetlands, cranberry bog)
• is scenic (waterfalls, ponds, view points)
• has historic value (Indian artifacts, colonial roads, old mill ruins)
• provides public access to attractions such as the Housatonic or Far Mill Rivers
• Protects vulnerable lands or water quality, such as the shoreline of the Far Mill River
• May provide for future recreational opportunities (such as ballfields or community gardens).
• Is located in a residential zone (provides greater economic benefit to taxpayers).
• Is available for a reasonable price