Garfield Legacy Project

Mission
The Garfield Legacy Project (GLP) promotes the creation of an effective, funded, voluntary and non-regulatory open lands conservation program in Garfield County, Colorado.

Open Lands Program? Tell me more...
An open lands program - also sometimes called a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program or "open space" program - is a tool that can be used to achieve a variety of community-based values.

Things like:
- Supporting a thriving farm and ranch community by providing funding to landowners;
- Improving access to public lands for recreation;
- Protecting land along rivers and streams that enhance water quality;
- Help define community boundaries by preserving space between;
- Protect scenic vistas;
- And help preserve other land-related goals communities value.

An open lands program provides landowners cash in exhange for their willingness to extinguish the development rights on all or a portion of their property so that one of the above values can be met. The objective is protected forever by a conservation agreement between the willing landowner and a willing land trust. The property remains under private ownership, and the landowner can continue to work their land as they are accustomed to. The land may be sold or transferred, but the conservation agreement remains in place.

The landowner is provided an economically attractive alternative to selling land for development through compensation for the developmental rights of their land. The compensation enables them to meet financial objectives, such as debt reduction, making capital improvements, or retirement.

The conservation agreement that results is a market-based mechanism where the landowner, open lands program and land trust mutually agree to a selling price for the development rights, which provides the landowner their financial incentive. If the landowner is not favorable to the proposal, they are under no obligation to sell their development rights, as the program is not mandatory, and does not result in the amendment or creation of regulations.

Why Open Lands?
It is clear that so much of the quality of life enjoyed by the citizens of Garfield County, Colorado, is due to the open land resources the County harbors: aesthetic views of the bookcliffs and working lands well-stewarded by the hard-working families of the Colorado River and Roaring Fork river valleys; the area's exemplary recreation and trail systems; land along rivers and streams that cleans our water and provides forage for fish and wildlife - all of this and so much more that is at the heart of what makes Garfield County a great place to live.

This is why the Garfield Legacy Project supports the creation of a voluntary open lands conservation program in Garfield County, to ensure our quality of life amenities remain well into the future as we continue to grow, develop and seek energy resources in all their forms.

"Open space" is not just the abundant public lands surrounding the county's well-cared for private lands. While public lands are indeed a valuable quality of life amenity, we must not forget that the value of the area's working lands, water resources, recreation and wildlife complement and add to our economic and social well-being.

We must be aware of open space in its many forms, for its many benefits. It means supporting our agricultural and ranching communities to be as competetive and fruitful as can be. It means creating and caring for recreation facilities that respect and are compatible with surrounding land uses. It means preserving and enhancing recreational and tourism opportunities to improve our economic portfolio. Open space, in all its forms, is important to Garfield County's future.

That is why the Garfield Legacy Project says "Yes In My Back Yard" to the creation of an open lands conservation program in Garfield County!

Email us at: info@garfieldlegacy.org

The Garfield Legacy Project is co-chaired by Mary Noone and Dave Devanney.

If you are interested in learning more about GLP, contact:
Mary Noone at (970) 309-6900
or
Dave Devanney at dgdevanney@comcast.net

Garfield Legacy Project
P.O. Box 42
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602

Main Navigation

Garfield Legacy Project