The Landowner's Guide to Conservation Easements

by Bick, Steven; Haney, Harry L.

• ISBN13: 9780787276416
• ISBN10: 0787276413
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Kendall Hunt Pub

Table of Contents

What Are Conservation Easements?	1	(16)
Introduction	2	(1)
Conservation Easements are Ownership Interests in Land	3	(2)
Conservation Easements Direct Land Management	5	(1)
Conservation Easements are Land-use Controls	6	(6)
Conservation Easements are Popular Solutions	12	(1)
Is a Conservation Easement Right for Your Land?	13	(4)
Conservation Easement Grantees	17	(8)
Income, Estate and Property Tax Aspects of Conservation Easements	25	(16)
Income Tax Considerations	26	(4)
Estate Tax Considerations	30	(6)
Property Tax Considerations	36	(2)
Valuation for Taxation Purposes	38	(3)
Designing Conservation Easement Deeds: A Plan for Your Land	41	(40)
Introduction	42	(2)
General Considerations	44	(1)
Professional Advice	45	(1)
Deed Contents	46	(1)
Boilerplate	46	(5)
Affirmative Rights: What Can the Grantee Do with the Property?	51	(9)
Restrictions: In What Ways Are the Grantor's Actions Limited?	60	(5)
Reserved Rights: What Uses and Options Do Landowners Retain?	65	(4)
Terms, Conditions & Other Provisions	69	(8)
Conservation Easement Deed Examples	77	(1)
Summary	78	(3)
How Do Conservation Easements Turn Out?	81	(12)
Conservation Easements and Coercion	83	(1)
Mixed Results	84	(1)
A Second Generation Owner	85	(2)
Goals Well-Served	87	(2)
A Real Estate Investor Finds an Alternative Market	89	(4)
A Process of Informed Decision Making	93	(14)
Learn About Conservation Easements and Their Consequences	94	(4)
Draft a Plan For Your Land	98	(1)
Contact Potential Grantees	98	(1)
Making the Decision - Timing and Implementation	99	(4)
References: Literature Cited
References: Literature Cited	103	(4)
Appendices	107
Appendix A - Promotional Literature on Conservation Easements	108
Appendix B - Internal Revenue Code Section 170(h)	110
Appendix C - Section 508 of Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997	112
Appendix D - Specific Items from Conservation Easement Deeds	118
Appendix E - Selected Example Deeds to Conservation Easements	124
Example 1. Productive Farmland - Pennsylvania	124
Example 2. Productive Farmland - California	137
Example 3. Productive Forestland	150
Example 4. General Open Space Conditions	159
Example 5. Greenspace in Connection with Development	171