I agree with Jim - a bit of caution is in order.  In Montgomery County 
there are sure some park properties that we have accepted for various 
reasons that I have to scratch my head and wonder, why in the world did 
we accept this piece of land.  They are often more trouble than they are 
worth ecologically.  That is not to say that these land sales are 
appropriate.  The State is strapped for money and looking to find it any 
way it can.

Examining the review documents, as Jim suggests, is a good idea. Arguing 
not to sell ecological valuable land is a worthy cause.  An additional 
approach may be to push for some, if not all, of the money made on any 
appropriate land sales to go towards the purchase of more desirable 
land.  I don't keep up with DNR's funding but I do seem to remember that 
they lost a big chunk of money that had been earmarked for land 
aquisition and the purchase of conservation easments.  If they are 
selling off land, reinstating some of these land aquisition programs 
seems a logical use for the money.  With state finances the way they 
are, however,  I'm sure that is not what they are thinking about.

Rob Gibbs
Damascus, MD



Jim Stasz wrote:

>Hi Folks!
>
>I would urge a bit of caution before jumping on the State of Maryland for trying to dispose of "excess" land.  In my 19 years as a Land Planner for Prince George's County I have often had to review land that the County has received and had to determine if it might be better off sold than  retained.  The County regularly obtains ownership of land by failure of the landowner to pay taxes.  No public funds were used to acquire the land.  Part of my review is to determine if the land has more value as open space than as something that "could"  be developed in some fashion and provide tax revenue.  One prime reason to "excess" property is to remove the maintenance responsibility from the County.  I am certain that some of the property the the State of Maryland is proposing to excess is land that they obtained at little or no cost, the expense to maintain the land outweighs the benefit to the general public and the potential for tax revenue is a bonus.
>
>A review of each parcel has probably been completed by the State.  I suspect that these reviews are public documents.  Check the particulars of each parcel and do not make a blanket "We think this is a bad idea."
>
>Perhaps someone from the State of Maryland could provide appropriate links to give us all a better prespective.
>
>Good Birding!
>
>Jim
>
>Jim Stasz
>North Beach MD
>
>
>  
>