How will the plan affect landowners?
The future use of one’s property is a very serious decision. The open space master plan is NOT a zoning map and DOES NOT affect land prices or the ability of the landowner to sell, develop or keep their property in private ownership. The open space master plan simply maps land that has been identified in local and county plans or by the Steering Committee that should be protected for some specific reason (floodplain, wetlands, forests areas, high quality natural areas, etc.), similar to the mapping which is already present on most local governmental land use plans. Participation in discussions on preservation options is strictly voluntary by landowners. Public information meetings were held early in 2006, prior to local government support of the plan, where landowners and the public were able to review and comment on the draft open space maps, before it was considered for support by local governments and then printed. Click here to learn more about the Plan.
