Shrewsbury Township Conservation Fund

LAND CONSERVATION: WHY

The Shrewsbury Township Board of Supervisors observes the current rate of unprecedented growth and urbanization, here and elsewhere, and believes it creates increased development pressures on our remaining open space*. Because of this, it is imperative that we develop appropriate criteria and strategies for the preservation and protection of open space. Communities such as ours, the township along with the boroughs, must retain enough open space to meet the range of community needs, with particular attention to renewing local developments and sustaining natural systems in perpetuity.

Rationale

Open space preservation is a very important component of any responsible development or land use strategy. Depending on scale, open space provides several benefits which may include enhanced water and air quality, habitat, decreased storm water run-off and the desirable aesthetics of natural surroundings. Open space preservation within private developments also provides additional opportunities for active or passive recreation, reducing the pressure on local governments to acquire and maintain additional park lands.

Public open spaces may include view corridors; linear greenways along waterways and railroad rights of way; privately owned lands covered by scenic easements; the preservation of rural landscapes that are threatened by development; wetlands; and the preservation of areas of ecological importance. These areas may contain resources that benefit the public health, safety and welfare, as well as provide increased biological diversity and other natural functions and values. Whenever possible, the natural terrain, soils, hydrology and vegetation of an area should be preserved with the open spaces creating a rich network of interconnected parks and greenbelts.

Open spaces fulfill several functions within a community. All open spaces provide opportunities for recreation education and environmental benefits. Some should be set aside as open space that does not include physical access, particularly in sensitive areas such as coastal areas, riparian corridors, steep slopes, canyons and less common and/or intact natural areas. Open spaces do not have to be pristine natural areas, but can be reclaimed from development or from previous extensive modification, such as mining areas, channelized waterways or drained wetlands. Returning an area to a natural condition, even on a small scale, provide benefits to the community.

*The term open space is merely shorthand for prime agricultural lands and environmentally sensitive areas such as streams, marshes, springs and steep slopes.