Rockland looking to buy land for open space

Rockland County is continuing a program that was started in 1999, suspended in 2010 and then revived in 2019 to buy land for preservation as open space. Rockland County Executive Ed Day and the county’s Division of Environmental Resources jointly announced on Sept. 6 that applications once again are being accepted from anyone who would like to offer land for the county to consider acquiring.

Rockland County.

“We invite residents to submit nominations of properties that will help us preserve open space and protect our county”™s environment and beauty for future generations,” Day said. “I am committed to safeguarding our environment and working with the County Legislature to do so in a way that is fiscally responsible and fair to our taxpayers.”

The program was started in 1999 by former County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef with the goal of acquiring areas of scenic beauty, environmentally sensitive lands, farms and Hudson River waterfront areas. It was suspended in 2010 as a result of Rockland County”™s fiscal difficulties during the national recession.

Until the program’s suspension, 31 individual properties were acquired preserving 1,204 acres of land. A total of $23,300,000 in county funds was expended while state grants and partnerships with land trusts enabled $11,576,000 worth of land to be preserved. From the program’s revival in 2019 to until now, three additional parcels totaling 25 acres have been preserved.

County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said that his colleagues are excited to acquire more purchases in the future to preserve land so it won’t wind up being developed.

“It”™s thrilling to use funds in such a way that it really gives back to the people,” Hood said.

An Open Space Advisory Committee is charged with reviewing applications from land owners who want to sell to the country. It is made up of representatives from the country’s Division of Environmental Resources, Department of Planning, Department of Health, Office of Fire and Emergency Services and the Rockland County Drainage Agency.

Once it is determined that a property owner is interested in selling, there is a field inspection and rating of the property based on the certain guidelines. The property is given an appraisal to determine its value and then if the County Executive”™s Office makes determination to proceed with the purchase, a resolution is prepared and submitted to the County Legislature.