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The Samuel W. Morris Trust was incorporated as a Pennsylvania
nonprofit Trust on
April 9, 2004. The Trust was formed to further charitable, scientific and education purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In particular, the Trust will promote conservation and preservation of essential natural, cultural and recreational resources in the watersheds of
Northern Chester County,
Pennsylvania.
The Trust intends to acquire land
and conservation easements, and use innovative zoning and planning tools. The Trust was created to honor the memory and continue the mission of the late Samuel W. Morris. Founder of the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Sam Morris, as he was known, was a pioneer in the use of conservation easements to preserve land. In addition to writing all the easements for landowners who agreed to protect their properties through the trust, he was also responsible for three Conferences the trust held to promote the concept of conservation easements. In 1974 and 1979 the Trust held two conferences on voluntary preservation of open space and another in 1986 entitled Rural Preservation in Pennsylvania. Proceedings from all three Conferences were published.
Later, representing the l55th District, of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and as Chairman of the Pennsylvania House Committee on Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Representative Morris was responsible for a one hundred million dollar bond issue to purchase easements on agricultural lands. The Trust will acquire easements on agricultural, natural, scenic and cultural lands.
Easements will be obtained by donations from willing landholders and purchases of land at fair market value from willing sellers. By acquiring such easements, landholders who give easements, or agree to easements, will remain on their property and continue to pay all local taxes, but the right to alter the agricultural, natural, scenic and/or cultural values of the property will be retired by the Trust in perpetuity.
Although most of the waters in Northern
Chester
County
drain into the
Schuylkill
River
and extend into
Berks
County, some drain into other watersheds. The lands in this area are being developed at a faster rate than almost any other region in
Pennsylvania. On the other hand, these lands contain Class 1 agricultural soils, important scenic and natural resources, and major historic sites including those associated with the early charcoal iron industry. Every attempt should be made to protect these lands from uncoordinated urban development more commonly known as "sprawl", especially as French Creek was designated as the fourth scenic waterway in the Commonwealth in 1982.
In addition, the Trust will seek to participate in local and regional planning, zoning, and land use decisions in order to promote conservation-based policies and partnerships that concentrate development in existing communities while maintaining natural, agricultural, and historic landscapes. Such activities will include but not be limited to:
1. Testimony before planning and zoning boards at the County and municipal level;
2. Technical assistance to county and local planners and planning agencies;
3. Legal review of proposed ordinances and plans to ensure compliance with county plans and with the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code (MPC);
4. Public education and awareness of alternatives to low-density development and opportunities for conservation of scarce natural, scenic and cultural resources, such as those at Saint Peters Village in Warwick Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
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