Two town of Glenville properties will be forever protected from development and their historic value preserved, thanks to the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC).
Land conservation agree-ments were recently signed with two town landowners for property totaling 141 acres. The properties belong to Dudley Crauer in Wolf Hollow and Calvin Schmidt along Hoffman’s Fault.
Both men are longtime residents of the community. The conservation agreements give them assurance that the unique natural and historic values of their properties will be permanently protected from future development.
Crauer is the third generation of family members to live at the foot of Wolf Hollow.
This was my grandpa’s farm; we used to come up here on weekends and during summer vacation to stay here, said Crauer. `In the winter, they closed the road and we skied down the snowy hill. I still see kids doing that in recent years.`
Crauer’s land is unique in that it was a shortcut and frequently used pathway for Native Americans to travel from the Mohawk River to northern New York sites. The area has cliffs used as shelter and a stream to provide fish and water.
`This was a common campsite and resting area,` said Crauer. `There are compressions in the land where the Native Americans had corn pits where they stored their crops for winter.`
Crauer’s relatives researched the land and then launched their own explorations.
`My grandfather and uncle started nosing around, and they found artifacts here dating back 5,000 years,` said Crauer. `They found literally hundreds of artifacts.`
The family donated the artifacts to the state museum. The property was also the site of the final battle between the Algonquin and Mohawk tribes, where the Algonquins eventually retreated.
`Every year, Native Americans stop by and visit our land,` said Crauer. `It’s part of their heritage and we welcome them to visit. Anyone who stops by can tour the land; I tell them to bring their cameras.`
The Schmidt property is mostly wooded and is traversed by Hoffman’s Fault. The geological features of the property include a sink hole and springs, as well as unique habitats for diverse plant species.
The MHLC is a nonprofit, community-based organization with a mission to protect land for its natural, recreational, scenic, historical, or productive value. MHLC is working to seal the future of properties with scenic vistas which are often snapped up for housing development, as well as land with scientific, historic or archeological significance.
Local lands needing protection often contain dramatic geological features or historical attributes like Crauer’s, once inhabited by Native Americans. The MHLC also seeks to preserve stream and trail corridors that provide access to hiking trails, are wetlands or contain other natural wildlife habitats. The MHLC has set its sights on preserving land in the Hudson and Mohawk River cor-ridors and the Pine Bush in Albany County.
One of the reasons commonly given by people who favor more development of unused property is that the tax base will be broadened, but Jill Knapp, executive director of the MHLC, said this is a myth.
`Evidence shows development does not bring a net gain for taxes,` she said.
`Studies show that open space demands far less in services than it pays in tax dollars, but developed land takes out much more in services than it puts in.`
Because protected open space is viewed as a good neighbor, the value of nearby properties is often increased, so the value of nearby properties may increase.
`In the long run, the preservation of open space costs the community less than development,` said Knapp.
The MHLC, however, does not completely oppose development. `Land trusts do support development when it is well planned to fit the natural, historical and pastoral elements of the area being developed,` said Knapp.
Since its founding in 1992, the group has ensured the safe future of more than 1,500 acres.
Another perk for the property owners entering the agreements are eligibility for annual tax breaks. New York State laws just enacted allow the owners relief of 25 percent of their property taxes paid on that land, up to $5,000 per year.
As for Crauer, he hopes by keeping development off his land, he’s helping protect the future of natural land for generations to come. `When I see the loss of open space, I get so concerned,` said Crauer. `If we don’t draw a line in the sand, what are we giving our children and grand-children? Their problems will be insurmountable. I only have 40 acres to protect; I wish I had more.`
Knapp hopes other residents will recognize the value of their land and its geographic and his-toric significance. `Most people have a familiarity with their prop-erty, and don’t need to go hunting for artifacts to know of its innate significance,` said Knapp. `People who love and know their land in-timately, whether through re-search or just hiking the property, are aware of the value of it and its unique qualities. We’re here to assure the land stays that way.`
For information, visit www.mhlc.org.
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