According to Thomas Pytel of Independence Township, time is running out to preserve green spaces left in the township.
His idea: a millage on township residents to purchase remaining natural areas, to preserve wild life, habitat, forests, and water.
‘I have been in the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy for the past 10-12 years or so,? said Pytel, who presented his idea to the Independence Township Board Oct. 16.
‘We try awful hard to save a lot of land, but unless you have the money, you just end up not saving any land,? he said. ‘This is something that has been talked about by the conservancy and been done in other townships and other counties. I’ve been thinking about it for two or three years now.?
With $1.6 billion in taxable value in the township, 0.6 mills would collect around $1 million a year for 10 years, beginning Dec. 1, 2008. Pytel said the Michigan Resources Trust Fund would match local funds up to around $3 million total.
‘If you can show an area you want to purchase that would allow public access, for example a passing park or a dog walk park, and demonstrate a need, then you can leverage that 25 percent and the state’s trust fund would pay 75 percent,? he said.
‘We are going to target areas that have the most significant natural features and offer to buy them with this money that is raised ? we are not going after people’s personal property.?
Open spaces raises property values because people want to live in areas where there are open spaces, he said.
‘It just increases the quality of life and draws people, younger folks, ambitious folks that want to live there, like Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Township,? he said.
The next step is to pay for a poll to see how well the idea would be supported in the township. If residents support the idea, then it will be added to the November 2008 ballet Pytel is hoping for close to 60 percent support.
‘The people who have studied this and consoled on this, they say that your target is somewhere around 60 percent, that if you can get close to 60 percent on the poll, you can be very certain it will pass in an election ? it’s been done in many places.?
The North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy supports the millage, he said.
‘I think the conservancy has always stood for good balance between development and conservation of green spaces,? said Katie Anderson, executive director. ‘We understand that a green space in our area provides economic value and helps property values. I think the idea of looking at our community and taking a stand on what should be preserved makes really good economic sense in this economic climate.?