Keep your green - Sept. 30 community conversation on rural area incentives

Prince William Conservation Alliance will host a discussion of some development alternatives: conservation easements, transfer of development rights and purchase of development rights with three speakers Sept. 30 at Guiseppe’s Restaurant, 5120 Washington Street, in Haymarket beginning at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Purchase of Development Rights - Twenty-two Virginia localities have PDR programs. Hear about how these programs work and benefit local farms, many of which reinvest funds received into their agricultural operations or agri-business.

Speaker Julie Bolthouse is the Fauquier County Land Use Representative of the Piedmont Environmental Council. Julie grew up in Northern Virginia and attended Virginia Tech, where she earned a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and a Masters degree in Natural Resources.

Transfer of Development Rights - The presentation will explain Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs: their purposes, operations, advantages, and disadvantages. It will highlight areas where TDRs have been successful and discuss their use and potential in Virginia.

Speaker Shelley S. Mastran, is a Professor in Practice of Urban Planning at Virginia Tech in Northern Virginia, where she teaches Land Use Planning, Natural Resources Planning, Planning for Parks, and practical studios. She is a co-author of Saving America’s Countryside and the Better Models for Development series with Ed McMahon.

Conservation Easements - Conservation easements permanently protect open spaces and rural lands. They can encompass the full range of keeping land in private ownership, creating public recreation opportunities, preserving wildlife habitat, and/or enabling stewardship of working farms – they are tailored to each property.

Speaker Alan Rowsome is the Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. Previously, Alan was the Senior Director of Government Relations for Lands at The Wilderness Society and National Chair of the Land & Water Conservation Fund Coalition.

Food and drinks available for purchase. Questions and RSVP to PWCA, 703.499.4954, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://www.pwconserve.org