Open Space Committee
The Town Board created the Town of Aurora Open Space Committee in January 2007.
The mission of the committee is to inventory, evaluate and prioritize the Town of Aurora’s open space resources and work with the community to develop and promote a plan for the protection of these resources.
CLICK HERE for the Open Space Plan 2010
DiNapoli Report for Open Space
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER
Thomas P. DiNapoli, State Comptroller
Economic Benefits of Open Space Preservation
Committee Members (Appointed to a Three-Year Term) Libby Weberg, co-chairman
(term ends 2012)
Nancy Smith, co-chairman
(term ends 2012)
Noelle A. Ronan
(term ends 2012)
Larry Brickman
(term ends 2013)
Dale Morris
(term ends 2013)
Deborah Fenn
(term ends 2014)
Jon Sundquist
(term ends 2014)
Additional participants always welcome.
Meetings
All meetings of the Open Space Committee are open to the public. The committee usually meets the fourth Tuesday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Town Hall. Please contact the Town Clerk's Office (652-3280) or Town Supervisor's Office (652-7590) if you plan to attend, as the meeting dates are subject to change.
Progress
An Open Space Survey was completed between March and September of 2007. Some 326 surveys were completed and indicated that 86% of respondents favored protecting open space. Residents gave high priority to forests, woodlands and wildlife habitat, followed by stream corridors, wetlands, scenic views, and farmland. Using a 10-category ranking system, the committee identified parcels of open space land in the town with high natural resource value with priority for protection. Meetings with land owners have been held to answer questions about conservation easements and potential tax benefits for conservation easement donations. The Open Space Committee is working to update the existing Open Space Plan.
Links
- Trust for Public Lands: Local Greenprinting for Growth
- Western New York Land Conservancy
- Land Trust Alliance
- Trust for Public Land
- American Farmland Trust
- American Farmland Trust Guide to Local Planning for Agriculture in New York
