Redlands Reassesses Value of Open Lands

The Redlands, Calif. Conservancy's Land Trust Cabinet is reexamining the economic value of its open spaces vis-a-vis new housing developments in San Bernardino, Calif.

While cities are typically looking to build their next housing development (and add to the tax coffers with additional property taxes), some cities are reexamining that model for use of open lands.

A new report from The Trust for Public Land, ''Conservation: An Investment That Pays,'' notes that parks, greenways and other open lands can ''boost property values, attract and support businesses, save energy and water-treatment costs, and safeguard the natural systems on which our economic well-being depends."

The community of Redlands, Calif., specifically the Redlands Conservancy's Land Trust Cabinet, is reexamining how it uses open spaces. The cabinet is reporting on the cost benefits of preserving its open spaces and how to capitalize on its open space assets. Those assets include attracting new businesses, increasing property values, reducing health costs and increasing tourism.

The cabinet has outlined Redlands' variety of open spaces: working landscapes (citrus groves, organic farms, boarding stables, training centers, breeding farms, working cattle ranches); recreational parks; natural lands (Santa Ana River wash, Live Oak Canyon and San Timoteo Canyon); and trails (urban, rural and within developments).

The city already has a strong tradition of valuing its open spaces. It has a Historic and Scenic Preservation ordinance. Voters approved a measure to fund the purchase of more than 200 acres of open space for the city. The Resource Preservation District established a one house per five-acre zone in its canyon lands. The city has also initiated developers' fees to fund purchase of open spaces, in lieu of outright donation of land.