[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Mine Hill 2-1-2001 by Ord. No.
1-01. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land use — See Ch. 310.
A.
Funds from the Open Space Trust Fund may, as directed by the Township
Council, be utilized to acquire vacant land, as well as land which
has improvements upon it at the time of the acquisition, where the
principal purpose of the acquisition is to preserve open space for
protecting sources of drinking water, active and passive recreation,
open space or conservation purposes.
B.
The Open Space Trust Fund shall be funded through the dedication
to the fund of an amount not to exceed $0.005 per $100 of assessed
valuation of each annual tax levy. The Township may also accept donations
and testamentary bequests for inclusion in the fund.
C.
There shall be established and maintained a separate bank account
for the Open Space Trust Fund into which all open space funds shall
be deposited and maintained.
A.
The funds accumulated within the Open Space Trust Fund may be utilized
for:
(1)
The acquisition of land by outright purchases, long-term leases,
donations, acquisition of development rights, conservation easements,
or scenic easements, or as a down payment for the issuance of bonds
for open space acquisitions at the discretion of the Township Council;
(2)
Ancillary professional and other costs associated with such purchases
or acquisitions; or
(3)
Professional services and costs related to overall open space planning.
B.
The Township Council shall only appropriate funds from the Open Space
Trust Fund for an authorized purpose.
C.
No property which has been acquired with funds from the Open Space
Trust Fund shall thereafter be sold or leased unless and until such
sale or lease has been approved by the voters at a referendum.
In the event that no property is acquired or in the process
of being acquired under this chapter for a period of five consecutive
years, the Mayor and Township Council shall review the activities
of the Open Space Committee and issue a report with recommendations
and conclusions concerning the Open Space Trust Fund.
