LAND - They're not making any more of it!

One of the more interesting functions of the Land Conservancy of Lake County (LCLC) is the ability to obtain and own property. The ownership of land enables LCLC to carry out important aspects of its nonprofit charter. Members benefit through opportunities to develop land stewardship skills and feel a sense of accomplishment. The public benefits through the long-term protection of our dwindling land resources.

LCLC, through its Land Committee, regularly reviews requests to accept donations of additional properties. During a typical year, the Land Committee may talk to five or more land owners wishing to donate property to LCLC. Often, the inquiries only lead to exchanges of information and discussion without a land donation being made. Some of the items the Land Committee looks at during a negotiation are the intended use of the property, its location, resources available, and the willingness of the donor to grant an endowment for the long-term protection and management of the site.

Know of anyone interested in donating land to LCLC?
Contact the Land Committee Chairman, Jeffrey Koziel at (847) 36-6001.

WHAT IS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT?

Conservation easements are voluntary restrictions on the use of land negotiated by the land owner and the organization chosen by the land owner to "hold" (enforce) the easement. The purpose of a conservation easement is to conserve some aspect of the land identified as being of value to the community.

The terms of conservation easements are entirely up to the land owner and prospective easement holder to negotiate. However, the Internal Revenue Code establishes standards for easements that, if met, qualify the donation of the easement for tax deductions.

The protection of farm land, ranch land, and timber land, particularly where such land is under residential or commercial development pressure and where local planning identifies such activities as valuable to the community, are typical objectives of conservation easements. In addition, the protection of wetlands, floodplains, areas providing habitat to important wildlife, and land possessing unusual beauty also are appropriate uses of easements.

Easements that are permanent, donated (rather than sold) by the land owner, and that conserve for the public benefit one or more of the foregoing characteristics of land typically qualify for the tax benefits offered by the Internal Revenue Code.

Although easements must create a public benefit to quality for tax deductions, this does not mean that the public gains access to the land. Unless the purpose of the easement is the conservation of some feature that is meaningless without public access, such as the preservation of a beautiful view, no public access is required.

In addition, easements normally permit the continuation of the rural uses being enjoyed by the land owner at the time of the donation of the easement. Land subject to a conservation easement may be freely sold, donated, passed onto heirs and transferred in every normal fashion, as long as it remains subject to the restrictions of the easement. It is even possible to retain some rights to limited development of land, including limited residential construction so long as the retention of such rights does not undercut the conservation purpose of the easement.

To quality for a tax deduction, easements must be donated either to a federal, state, or local government agency, or to a private charitable organization that has the capacity to enforce the terms of the easement. Such an organization is the Land Conservancy of Lake County which qualifies as a charitable organization under section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Memorial Contributions
The Land Conservancy of Lake County also accepts contributions through memorials in honor of a loved one or for a special purpose, such as the William Rockar Education Fund, equipment, or for land management on a specific LCLC nature preserve. LCLC will notify the individual or family of your donation.

For more information, contact the Land Conservancy of Lake County using the information below.