Back to News and Events Menu

NEWS RELEASE

September 24, 2007

Media Contacts:

Partnership will work to fight "bad infill" across the County by encouraging land owners to put land into preservation easements

Ulman and Howard County Conservancy Announce Partnership Regarding Preservation Easements

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman along with Howard County Conservancy President Ann Holmes Jones today signed a Memorandum of Understanding through which the County and the Conservancy will work together to promote preservation easements on parcels of less than 50 acres and protect that land from future development. These smaller parcels of land, which have significant conservation value to the County, are often targets for development. Development on parcels such as these is often referred to as “bad infill” and can be frustrating to neighbors whose properties surround these smaller parcels.

“This project is important to protecting the quality of life for Howard County property owners. Often these owners don’t want to sell their property but the price of their undeveloped land is so high that their property taxes become burdensome,” said Ulman. “I’m pleased that we have partnered with the Conservancy to offer an alternative that protects the environment.”

Ann Holmes Jones, the Howard County Conservancy President explained, “Residents across the County have identified special properties that define the characteristic of their neighborhood. Many of these properties have substantial development potential. When these parcels are developed it comes as a real shock to the neighborhood and gives individual property owners the feeling that development is being jammed into every parcel in the County. Presenting another option is to everyone’s benefit."

The signing of this agreement took place at historic Lilburn Castle in Ellicott City. The seven-acre parcel at Lilburn, as well as the adjoining property, will be one of the first properties to enter into this program. The owner of Lilburn, Geoffrey Hermanstorfer stated, “We considered our options very carefully and putting the property under an easement was the right thing to do socially, economically and environmentally. We are very proud to guarantee this land will forever be preserved.”