WARREN PRESERVE, AUBURN
OAK WOODLANDS AND MEADOWS IN AUBURN
At the end of 2007, landowner Leslie Warren donated a conservation easement to Placer Land Trust to permanently protect her rural Auburn property from harmful land practices.
Warren's property sits along Orr Creek in the community of Christian Valley amid rolling oak woodlands, and contains a spectacular grassy meadow - all providing critical habitat for foothill wildlife as well as scenic open space.
"We're thrilled to be a part of protecting this land," said Placer Land Trust Executive Director Jeff Darlington. "Leslie's vision and generosity will provide long-lasting benefits for local flora and fauna, the residents of Christian Valley, and Placer County's rural lifestyle."
The easement allows Warren to construct a home for her children on the property, but prohibits other subdivision and development. Zoned for 4.6-acre lots, approximately 27 acres of the property is protected by the conservation easement, which means six potential lots were eliminated. The property will remain in Warren's hands and will be managed as a nature preserve.
"We've hiked and dreamed on this property for over 21 years," says Warren. "Our neighbors call this land 'The Meadow'. Back in the early 1990s we learned that the property was approved for a 67-house subdivision. When things turned sour for the developer and the land was for sale, we bought it with the help of a neighbor. Our intention at that time was to "save" the meadow, and that hasn't changed. That's why it was such a natural step to put the development rights into the hands of Placer Land Trust. There's a wonderful peace of mind knowing that this beautiful property will stay pretty much as it is, forever."
Along with subdivision and development, the conservation easement also prohibits harmful activities such as grading, dumping, and mining, while allowing the Warrens to continue to use portions of the property for agricultural use.
The donation of the easement during 2007 will qualify Warren for expanded tax benefits from the federal Pension Protection Act of 2006.
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 Placer Land Trust 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 100 Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 887-9222 info@placerlandtrust.org |