“it is not something to be considered lightly, but

“it is not something to be considered lightly, but it is the ultimate tool for preserving open space. There is no better way to do it. ”

A common misconception about scenic easements, according to Mr. Dwyer, is that they force the landowner to give away his rights. “There is a feeling that ‘This is my land and I don’t want to give away any part of it’.

There is nobody more attached to the land than me ... I feel that I’m not giving away anything. I’m enhancing the value of my property — and I’m making sure that it is protected and preserved for the future.”

Allen Olson, another former president of RLEP, said that the threat of a major development project often stimulates interest in open-space easements.

While easements offer “very good protection” against such threats, Mr. Olson cautioned “that is not a good reason in and of itself to give an easement. ”

Likewise, the promise of tax deduction for the value of the easement “could be a benefit.” But, the attorney added, “If all you are looking for is a tax deduction, an easement is not the way to go. ”

For Mr. Dwyer, the considerations were completely aesthetic. “If we don’t start preserving some of this land, we’re going to be in trouble.“It’s not a question of stopping progress,” he emphasized. “We’ve got to have progress — but we’ve got to preserve some beauty too.

“I really feel very strongly about this, and I hope that we can get some other people feeling the same way.”