NEWS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311
PHONE (610) 278-3061 FAX 278-5959
COMMISSIONERS:
MICHAEL D. MARINO, Chairman, JAMES R. MATTHEWS, RUTH S. DAMSKER
RELEASE:
Green Fields/Green Towns Taskforce
Issues Final Recommendations
NORRISTOWN — The Greenfield/Green Towns Taskforce issued its final recommendations to the Montgomery County Commissioners Thursday for the framework of the $150 million Open Space Program approved by voters in November.
The recommendations for the 10-year program include three basic components: Municipal Grants ($67 Million), Private Organization Grants ($8 Million), and County Open Space Activities ($75 Million). Each component includes options aimed at giving participants more flexibility to obtain open space with the broadest possible public benefit.
Municipal Grants: All municipalities are eligible for a pre-determined grant amount (see attached list) in the four-year first round of the program. A standard base grant was augmented with additional funding based on population. When the first round ends, funds that have not been used will be available for all municipalities on a competitive basis.
The task force recommends that municipal grants be awarded for 80 percent of the purchase price with a 20 percent municipal match in the first round, but with a 90-10 split in cases where multiple municipalities join forces to preserve a property. Norristown and Pottstown, the most economically distressed communities and largest urban areas in the county, would also have a 90-10 split. The second round would have a 70-30 funding split with an 85-15 split for multi-municipal projects.
In addition to land preservation, municipalities may focus funds toward preservation of heritage resources or important farmland. Other options would permit the restoration of built up floodplains, community trails that connect to the County’s trail network and local implementation of the Schuylkill River Greenway.
Older, more heavily developed areas of the County could also qualify for Green Infrastructure grants. Municipalities identified as "A" based on density and land availability could use their allocation to create safe, accessible, usable open space. (primarily boroughs) Demolition, rehabilitation, restoration of derelict properties, tree planting for regreening public areas and some limited improvement to existing open spaces would be considered under this option. Municipalities identified as "B" may use up to 30% of their allocation on green infrastructure projects. (older townships) "C" municipalities, having a variety of open space acquisition opportunities, are not eligible for green infrastructure funding.
Updated municipal open space plans would be required to be eligible to receive any municipal grant. Planning grants of up to $25,000 per municipality will be available and require a 40 percent municipal match, with in-kind service fulfilling a portion of the match requirement. Open space committees, set up by each municipality, will guide the planning process and inter-municipal planning efforts are encouraged. Once plans are approved and adopted, municipalities may proceed with open space projects supported by the plan recommendations.
Private Organization Grants: These will be available to organizations involved in heritage/historic resource protection as well as preservation of critical natural resources. Acquisition and conservation easements in significant natural areas and important heritage landscapes will be eligible. Heritage resources may include structures if the project includes a realistic strategy for fund-raising and restoration or adaptive reuse. County grant funds will not be available for restoration or rehabilitation of those structures. Private organization grants will require a 50 percent match and are intended to leverage funds from other governmental, foundation and private donor sources.
County Open Space Initiatives: These funds will be used to acquire a connected system of County open space. Projects will fit closely into the recommendations of the County’s Open Space and Comprehensive Plans and will also coordinate wherever possible with regional open space goals and priorities. Five major categories of County projects are recommended.
Trails and Greenways will continue to implement the County’s comprehensive primary trail network and to create continuous greenways that preserve and protect natural, scenic and habitat corridors.
County Focus Areas County parks, historic sites, and natural areas will be expanded, protected, and enhanced through land acquisition and conservation easements.
Parks and Historic Sites: Major capital projects will be funded to increase public use and enjoyment of the County’s assets.
Schuylkill Greenway: The County has placed a high priority on land acquisition, natural resource protection and appropriate public access to the Schuylkill River, especially those coordinated with local municipal efforts and regional greenway initiatives.
Farmland Preservation: Continued funding for the popular State Agricultural Conservation Easement Program will continue and be augmented to enable preservation of high-quality farms whose use or acreage do not qualify for state funding but which otherwise exemplify the objectives of viable, productive farm properties.
Program Information and Workshops: Program summaries will be mailed to municipalities, non-profits, and others upon request. At introductory workshops, to be held in February, potential grant applicants will have the opportunity to receive full program information.
Interested non-profit organizations are invited to attend a presentation on the morning of February 5. Municipal staff, open space committee members, and elected officials are invited to attend the municipal planning grant program workshop on the afternoon of February 26. The municipal workshop will be repeated that evening. More information about these meetings will be mailed directly to the municipalities and organizations and can also be obtained by calling Montgomery County Planning Commission.
For further information, please call the Montgomery County Planning Commission at (610) 278-3722.
