Land Protection

Like many communities close to Boston, Brookline continues to experience increased levels of development and with it the loss of open space. While 26% of land in Brookline remains “open” less than half of this land is permanently protected. Relatively large tracts of land owned by educational, religious, agricultural or other private interests can still be found, particularly in South Brookline, however much of this land will most likely be developed over time. In addition, areas in more densely populated sections of Brookline such as Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village and Washington Square are continuing to see increased development, creating stresses on over-used parks and open spaces. Over the next several years Brookline GreenSpace will be working to find ways to help protect or increase open space for the benefit of the community. Below are several strategies we will be pursuing.

Zoning
Broookline’s recently completed 10-year comprehensive plan has made several recommendations for zoning changes that would have a beneficial impact on open space. Examples of these include:

• the creation of an “open space” zoning district (similar to commercial or housing districts) to be used as a further protection on public parks and open spaces;
• the adoption of open space requirements for commercial development;
• adoption of a greenway buffer zone on designated roadways;
• open space residential cluster subdivision zoning;
• planned development district overlays for specific large properties with conservation value to help ensure appropriate development; and
• increased setback requirements on properties abutting sanctuaries.

Over the next several years Brookline GreenSpace Alliance will be working to adopt some of these zoning changes.

Conservation Restrictions
Conservation restrictions are an important tool that allows a private landowner to donate the development rights to their land to the town or other nonprofit entity. Conservation restrictions can be particularly valuable to help preserve open space while providing tax incentives to the donor. Brookline needs to develop an appropriate conservation restriction policy and to promote a CR program to landowners who have properties with high conservation value (such as those with significant trees, located on a scenic by-way, near a water source etc).

Acquisition
There are several properties in Brookline, most notably Allandale Farm, the only working farm in the Boston/Brookline area, that provide great benefit and value to the community. Protecting Allandale or some of the other large institutional properties with conservation value in Brookline will require direct acquisition or acquisition of a conservation or agricultural restriction. With land values so high, this would take a combination of significant private and public financing. Currently the Town of Brookline has an open space trust fund, but no funding mechanism is associated with it. Brookline GreenSpace will be working with the Town and members of the community to identify the most effective funding strategy for building this public source of financing for open space protection in Brookline.