1. Conservation Easements
Warrant Article 18
Conservation Easements

2. Conservation Commission
Primary Objective:
To Protect the Natural Resources of Rindge

3. Conservation Easements
Most Useful Tool for Commission to Protect Natural Resources
Used with Publicly and Privately Owned Properties
Legal Agreement Between a Landowner and a “Qualified Organization” such as Government Entity or Private Nonprofit (501c3)
Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests
Monadnock Conservancy
Northeast Wilderness Trust

4. Negotiated Easement Restricts Amount of Development
Granted in Perpetuity Regardless of Future Owners
Specifies Permitted Activities such as
Agriculture
Forestry
Recreation

5. Qualified Organization/Land Trust
Responsible for Regular Monitoring
Enforces Terms of Easement
Includes Liability of Potential Legal Fees
Acts as Steward of the Land
Saves Town from Many Monitoring Responsibilities

6. Interested Landowner Options
May Choose to Relinquish Ownership/Management by Property Donation to “Qualified” Organization
If Retaining Ownership/Management
“Development Rights” May be Donated or Sold to Land Trust

7. Warrant Article 18
Permits Conservation Commission to Participate in Easement Creation on Privately Owned Properties
Authorizes Commission to Negotiate with “Qualified” Land Trusts to Establish Conservation Easements
Does NOT allow purchase of land by Conservation Commission
Original 2005 Town Article Did Not Include Language as Required by RSA 36-A: 4-a, I(b) to Extend It to Privately Owned Land
Article 18 Corrects 2005 Rindge Warrant Article

8. Warrant Article 18
Does NOT authorize purchase of land by Conservation Commission (only Board of Selectman and Town can authorize purchase of land)

9. Conservation Fund Not Large Enough to Effect Purchase
Will Support, in Small Amounts, Efforts of Qualified Land Trusts to Negotiate Easements with Private Land Owners
No Town Budget Funds Will Be Utilized
Will Defray Ancillary Costs to Landowners to Establish Easement to Protect Their Land for Such Issues as:
Property Survey
Development of Management Plan
Legal Fees to Create/Register Easement

10. Conservation Easements
Protect and Preserve Natural Resources of Rindge for Future Generations
Open Spaces
Rare/Threatened Species and Habitats
Quality of Surface and Ground Water
Farmland
Public Access for Recreation

11. Investment/Payback
Small
Investment
BIG
Payback for
Rindge

12. Please Vote Yes on Article 18 To Protect Rindge’s Natural Resources for the Future