Group seeks to preserve county's green spaces
By Shariq Torres CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Planning Commission Chairman Dan Gecker is now taking his stance on growth one step further by forming a new nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving green space in the county.

Founded by Gecker and former Matoaca planning commissioner Ron Stack, the Chesterfield Conservancy held a banquet at Ruth's Chris Steak House earlier this week to introduce itself to business and environmental groups in the county. Gecker characterized the banquet as "more of a gathering than a fundraiser."

"We're looking to introduce ourselves to the public," Gecker said. "It's our unveiling. But as a charity, we are looking to take contributions from the public."

The goal of the conservancy is to protect open spaces in the county through easements donated to the organization by landowners. In return, the landowner receives tax credits and the peace of mind of knowing the land will remain undeveloped.

Stack said there are a number of family farms in the Matoaca District that are reluctant to develop. In recent years, growth in that district has exploded as housing developments move west along the Route 360 corridor.

"Right now there are sections of the county that can't be developed because of zoning. But over time, the county may deem it better to develop that same piece of land in the future," Stack said. "What we do is protect the land in perpetuity, so that it goes beyond political changes."

The conservancy is currently compiling a list of properties that it would like to see conserved using the Committee of the Future's greenways plan. The conservancy will then approach owners about donating easements or buy the land outright.

Gecker and Stack have hired Virginia McDonnell, a former employee of the state's Historical Resources Department, to run the conservancy.

Stack said the conservancy's efforts will be comparable to similar groups operating throughout the state, the most notable being the Piedmont Environmental Council located near Charlottesville.

Although conflict of interest questions could arise since one of the conservancy's trustees is an active member on the county's planning commission and a possible candidate for Midlothian supervisor, Gecker said it would only become a problem if a petitioner donated money to the conservancy.

"I wouldn't accept money from someone with a pending zoning case," Gecker said.

Stack agreed, saying the only way he foresees a possible conflict is if the conservancy was involved directly in a zoning case. In such an instance, Gecker would have to abstain from voting, Stack said.

For more information, call 601-2870 or visit www.chesterfieldconservancy.org.