Assemblymember Patricia A.

Fahy
109
th
Assembly District Albany, Bethlehem, Guilderland, New Scotland

For Immediate Release

May 29, 2014

FAHY, BRESLIN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE
CONSERVATION EASEMENT EXEMPTIONS FOR BETHLEHEM

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 29, 2014) --- Assemblymember Patricia A. Fahy (D-Albany) and Senator Neil D.
Breslin (D-Bethlehem) have introduced legislation that will allow for the Town of Bethlehem to provide
conservation easement exemptions for open space.

The bill (A.9719/S.7623) allows for the Town of Bethlehem to provide for a substantial property tax
exemption for landowners who agree to conserve open space, either for a period of years or in
perpetuity.

As described in by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, a 50 to 90 percent
exemption from general municipal and school district taxes is allowed with the percentage of exemption
determined by the length of the conservation commitment, which ranges from 15 years to perpetuity.

Bethlehem is a model community for land use planning. This legislation provides for Bethlehem to
advance their open space preservation program in a transparent and fair manner, said Assemblymember
Fahy.

The benefits of preserving open space are numerous, but so often communities have a difficult time
preserving undeveloped lands and conserving open space. Towns just don't have enough funds available
for preservation of such lands. Creating an open space tax exemption can be a vital tool for land
preservation and doesn't require the appropriation of any new funds. Enactment of this legislation will
give Bethlehem a new tool to help them preserve open space, said Senator Breslin.

Communities such as Bethlehem face challenges when handling development of open space that impacts
agricultural and environmental concerns. The bill will provide an option to preserve green space while
resolving concerns over property assessments as it relates to a towns finances.

Weve been studying open space preservation for some time in Bethlehem, noted Town Supervisor
John Clarkson, and with passage of this bill well be able to add a property tax exemption to the land
use tools we already employ, such as conservation subdivisions. With the help of expert citizen
volunteers, well be able to put together a model program that could be replicated elsewhere.

Since the Town of Bethlehem adopted its comprehensive plan in 2005, Bethlehem has discussed open
space preservation through a number of citizen advisory committees, including the Citizens Advisory
Committee on Conservation in 2009 and the Comprehensive Plan Assessment Committee last year,
which explicitly recommended the development of a permanent and term conservation easement
program which would provide property tax relief to landowners who agree to conserve open space
resources on their land.

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