The Rural Legacy Program Process
The Rural Legacy Program provides the focus and funding necessary to protect large, contiguous tracts of land rich in natural and cultural resources from sprawl development. It also enhances natural resources, farms and forests through cooperative efforts among state and local governments and land trusts. Protection is provided through the acquisition of easements and fee simple estates from willing landowners and the supporting activities of
Rural Legacy Sponsors and local governments. The Program is administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The Rural Legacy Program was enacted by the 1997 Maryland General Assembly and signed into law May 22nd of that year.
Why was the Program created?
The Rural Legacy Program was created to discourage sprawl development and protect areas for future generations to enjoy. The Program provides farmers and landowners an alternative to developing (or subdividing) their land or selling their property to developers. Under the Program they can sell or donate their development rights and still retain ownership to continue growing crops or raising livestock.
How is the Program funded?
On the state level, the Rural Legacy Program is funded through a combination of Maryland Program Open Space dollars and general obligation bonds from the state’s capital budget.
Local jurisdictions also contribute monies for a variety of land preservation efforts within these areas.
The Process
The Program encourages local governments and private land trusts to identify Rural Legacy Areas and to competitively apply for funds to complement existing land conservation efforts or create new ones. Local Sponsors must apply annually to the Rural Legacy Board for participation in the Program and to receive funding.
The
Rural Legacy Advisory Committee reviews all applications and makes recommendations to the Rural Legacy Board.
The Rural Legacy Board, in turn, reviews the applications each year and recommends to the Governor and Board of Public Works which Rural Legacy Areas will be designated and funded. The
Board of Public Works designates the Rural Legacy Areas and approves the grants for Rural Legacy funding.
Additional Information
What criteria are used to evaluate applications?
Definitions of Key Terms
What are some other land acquisition/protection methods?
How to Begin the Application Process
Rural Legacy Program Staff Contacts
