Q:
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Is there any land left on the North Shore of Long Island to Save?
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A:
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Absolutely, there are approximately 11,000 acres of unprotected land left with 2,000+ acres in residential hands, 5,000+ held by municipalities, and 4000+ in golf courses. Based on the current rate of development, excluding land that has been protected previously, it is estimated that all remaining land will be developed within the next 3 to 5 years.
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Q:
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Do I have to donate land to the NSLA in order to support its activities?
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A:
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No. There are many ways to support the NSLA's activities. You might choose to volunteer time, donate funds, or raise money for stewardship activities. The NSLA plans an active program of stewardship of its holdings and will provide stewardship services to protected lands. Or you might prefer to donate funds or to raise money for occasional "bargain purchases" of land. Alternatively, you might want to donate a conservation easement on your land. (The NSLA is interested in receiving conservation easements even on small portions of land.)
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Q:
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If I give a conservation easement does that mean that the public will be able to gain access to my land?
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A:
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No. The conservation easement can be crafted in any way that meets your needs. Some individuals might want to donate an easement or their land that will, in effect, turn it into a public park, with nature trails and public access. Others may simply want to protect the land in perpetuity and reserve all private property rights (in effect, donating only the development rights to the NSLA). The NSLA will provide legal services and facilitate independent appraisal services, so that the conservation easement process is as simple as possible for the donor.
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Q:
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Will there be "naming" opportunities for land donations?
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A:
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Yes. The NSLA will be prepared to name parcels of land in honor of the donor. Examples might be the [name] Meadow, the [name] Woods or Forest, or the [name] Salt Marsh. The NSLA also will be pleased to accept land donations or conservation easements either without naming or named in honor of other residents.
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Q:
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Why should people give land or conservation easements to the NSLA instead of to their local government?
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A:
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There are two reasons why you might prefer to give land to the NSLA: One is that, as a private, independent organization, existing in perpetuity, the NSLA has governance provisions that ensure that the land will never be subdivided or developed. Many people fear that the government may change its mind and decide to sell a piece of donated land in the future. The second, perhaps more compelling, reason is that the government is not organized to accept conservation easements or to provide ongoing stewardship services to the land.
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Q:
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Are you confident that creating a program of permanent "green spaces" will help sustain the value of our property without reducing tax revenues to village government?
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A:
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The common experience of land trusts across the country is clear: A program of "green spaces" protection not only sustains existing property values (protecting them from reductions caused by overbuilding and excess suburbanization) but also actually enhances property values in the area. Even though donations of land and conservation easements may result in a direct short-term reduction of property taxes, the general rise in property values offsets any revenue lost to local government. Most of the real estate tax value is related to structures (i.e., houses) on the land, not the land itself, so the village should not experience a noticeable revenue loss, even in the short term.
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Q:
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Who will govern the NSLA?
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A:
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The NSLA will be governed by a Board of Trustees, which will hold responsibility for making all decisions for the NSLA. The Board will be assisted by an Advisory Committee and will work in conjunction with the following officers: a chairman, a vice-chairmen, a secretary/treasurer. The Board has established bylaws that provide for rotating terms of membership on the Board and the Advisory Committee as well as the election of officers each year (at the annual meeting of the NSLA).
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Q:
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How will the NSLA relate to other organizations (e.g., village government, Friends of the Bay, The Nature Conservancy of Long Island)?
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A:
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The NSLA will have no formal relationship with village governments, but will seek to collaborate on issues of preservation and conservation. The NSLA will be an independent organization that exists "parallel to," enjoys a close relationship with, and has many members in common with the local community associations. The NSLA will collaborate with all like-minded organizations whose intent is to further conservation on the North Shore. The NSLA will draw on the services of The Nature Conservancy of Long Island for assistance and advice. The NSLA also will seek to collaborate with other land trusts on Long Island.
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Q:
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What will annual membership in the NSLA cost?
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A:
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We are asking for a (tax-deductible) donation of $25.00 to
Join the NSLA or Renew
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Q:
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Do you want larger donations to the NSLA as well?
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A:
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Yes. We would also like to raise additional funds for occasional bargain purchases of land and to underwrite stewardship activities. We are interested in receiving donations (present or deferred) of any amount to support the long-term activities of the NSLA. The NSLA will provide an annual accounting of its expenditures and its endowment to its members.
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