Hagerstown, MD (June 9, 2023) – The Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning is pleased to announce the successful preservation of a 115-acre farm in Washington County, Maryland.
On May 25th, a dedicated landowner in Washington County sold a 115-acre conservation easement in Boonsboro through the Rural Legacy Program. This program, supported by funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and administered locally by the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning, aims to safeguard agriculturally, environmentally, and historically significant land in the County’s Rural Legacy Area, protecting it from future development.
The preservation transaction follows the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) model, where the landowner sells their future residential, commercial, and industrial development rights to the easement holder. Importantly, the landowner retains full ownership of the property while ensuring its perpetual protection. Easement values under the Rural Legacy Program are determined by an Easement Valuation Formula, typically ranging from $3,500 to $4,500 per acre. With the recent acquisition of this easement, the County’s total acreage in the Rural Legacy Program now stands at nearly 9,000 acres.
For more information on the Rural Legacy Program and other land preservation initiatives offered by the County, please reach out to Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at cboggs@washco-md.net.
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