Ausbon Sargent's Land Protection Criteria
All potential land protection projects are reviewed by Ausbons Sargent's Lands Committee and then voted approval by the Board of Trustees according to a list of specific criteria. The more favorable criteria met and the fewer unfavorable criteria met, the more likely the Board is to approve a project.
Favorable criteria:
The property:
Is visible and benefits the public
Is or has the potential to be productive agricultural or forest land
Protects a scenic view
Protects a lake, stream, wetlands or watershed
Is likely to be developed in the future in a way that does not preserve the rural character of the area
Contains significant wildlife habitat
Has been identified in your town's Master Plan as a priority for preservation
Provides public use and/or has widespread community support
Is close to land that is already under protection and/or may encourage abutters to protect their properties
Can pay for itself or lend itself to special fundraising
Unfavorable criteria
The project:
Primarily benefits a single landowner or developer and is being done only for tax benefits or personal privacy
Is not especially productive
Would be expensive and use up significant financial or goodwill assets of Ausbon Sargent
Would present a stewardship or monitoring problem
Is found to be irreparably contaminated
Landowner is unable to obtain a mortgage subordination or insists on retaining unacceptable rights to the land