Findings and Recommendations

Findings

Overall

As of 2000 (the latest year for which figures were available):

• Of the region's 1,409,000 acres, 626,000 were developed.
• 176,000 acres were protected.
• 617,000 acres were undeveloped and unprotected.

Of the undeveloped and unprotected land, 466,300 acres are ranked as high priority (8, 9 or 10) for one or a combination of purposes (agriculture, ecological resources, or recreation).

County-by-County Analyses

A county by county breakdown of undeveloped and unprotected high priority lands is presented in the following three tables:

Agricultural Resources

• The top 50% of agricultural lands, in terms of resource value as defined in this Plan, total 600,000 acres. However, development on these lands has reduced this to 422,000 acres.
• The top 30% of agricultural lands total 350,000 acres. Development has reduced this to 283,000 acres. Of this land, 44,000 acres are already protected, leaving 239,000 high-resource-value acres undeveloped and unprotected.
• There is high-resource-value agricultural land in most rural parts of the region, particularly in southern and western Chester County, central Montgomery County, central and northern Bucks County, and along the Chester-Delaware County border.
• Much remaining high-resource-value farmland is in the path of development.

• The top 50% of ecological resource lands total 684,000 acres. Development on these lands has reduced this to 540,000 acres.
• The top 30% of ecological resource lands total 403,000 acres. Development has reduced this to 333,000 acres.
• The greatest concentrations of high-resource-value lands are in northern Bucks, northern Montgomery, and northern Chester Counties. These are on the southern fringes of the Highlands Region, also known as the Diabase Ridge. In addition, there are concentrations in northwestern Delaware County and central Bucks County.
• High-resource-value lands also are found along rivers and streams.
• Within Philadelphia and nearby inner suburbs, much of the ecological resource value has been lost, even within the few remaining undeveloped and unprotected lands.
• Development is fragmenting the large landscapes in the high-value areas. While not always taking large acreages, development nevertheless impinges upon contiguity and connectedness.
• There is limited overlap between agricultural and ecological resource areas in northern Chester, northern Montgomery, and northern and central Bucks counties. The greatest area of overlap is in northern Bucks County. The largest concentration of agricultural lands, in western Chester County, does not contain high-rated ecological resource lands.

• All lands prioritized for recreation total 337,000 acres. Of these, 71,000 acres are already developed, leaving 266,000 acres. An additional 103,000 acres are protected, leaving 163,000 recreation acres undeveloped and unprotected.
• The Schuylkill River Corridor, running from northwest to southeast through the middle of the region, is both a key recreational and ecological resource asset.
• Likewise, the Delaware River Corridor, which frames the region to the south and east, is of key importance.
• Many of the regionally important recreation lands follow stream corridors and consist of riparian areas.
• One of the most important features of the region's high-priority recreational lands is that they form a connected network.

• The total area of undeveloped and unprotected agricultural, ecological, and recreational lands with values of 8, 9, or 10 is 466,300 acres.
• Delete this bullet?
• The principal high-value lands for agriculture and ecological resources are in an arc starting in southwestern Chester County, running through central and western Montgomery County, and into northern and central Bucks County.
• Also significant is the stream headwaters area of western Delaware County and eastern Chester County.
• Few high-priority agricultural and ecological lands are found in densely populated areas , such as the City of Philadelphia and the inner-ring suburbs.
• Some high-value recreation lands can be found in the City of Philadelphia and its immediate suburbs.
• Unsurprisingly, recreational values are highest along river and stream corridors, since the Greenspace Network largely follows river and stream corridors.
• There is significant overlap between high-priority ecological and recreational lands. Over 39,000 acres of the region's undeveloped and unprotected lands are high value for both purposes.
• Likewise, there is significant overlap between high-value ecological and agricultural lands - almost 59,000 acres are high value for both purposes. The majority of this area is in extreme northern Bucks County.

Fragmentation of Open Space With High Resource Values

High-value open space is being fragmented significantly by roads, residences, and commercial and industrial uses. This makes it more difficult to maintain contiguity and continuity for agriculture, ecological resource protection, and recreation.

Recommendations

1. Preserve open space in both rural and urban/suburban lands and tailor preservation approach accordingly.
2. As a guideline, ensure that at least one acre of undeveloped land is protected for every acre that is developed.
3. In the rural conservation lands, permanently protect no less than 50% of remaining undeveloped and unprotected lands.
4. Recognize that stream and river corridors integrate rural lands with urban/suburban lands, and are therefore a critical resource for the region. Dedicate planning and funding resources to the permanent protection of these corridors.
5. In the urban/suburban lands, concentrate on protecting high-resource-value lands for recreational purposes and, where possible, for ecological resource and specialty agricultural uses.
6. Enact comprehensive plans and land use ordinances and promote multi-municipal cooperation to protect open space.
7. Develop funding strategies combining federal, state, county, municipal, and private sources for financing preservation.
8. Focus on attracting new revenue sources to protect open space.