Land sale a legacy for brothers
Source: timesleader.com, by TOM VENESKY
January 24, 2007
When William Haas and his brothers sold more than 3,000 acres in Bear Creek and Buck townships for about $1.7 million, they knew they were getting less than fair-market value.
It was intended that way.
The motive behind the sale wasn’t necessarily money – it was more about their family’s legacy.
Earlier this month, William Haas and his brothers, John and Thomas, sold three parcels totaling 3,450 acres to the Natural Lands Trust Inc. The Delaware County conservancy will preserve the land and utilize it for public recreation and education.
“This is an excellent vehicle to leave a legacy for my children and their children because it teaches future generations about responsible land use,” William Haas said. “Preservation has always been a part of my family since my dad was involved with historic preservation in Philadelphia. It’s a value I grew up with.
“I’m very happy that we’re doing what our parents would’ve wanted us to do,”
The Haas family, which is from Bear Creek Township, has been working since 1987 to make sure the property would be preserved, he said. His parents, F. Otto and Dorothy Haas, purchased the property in 1960.
Because the land will be protected under a conservation easement, the market value is lowered, William Haas said.
“That’s what we wanted to do,” he said. “We wanted to basically keep it the way it is now and limit development. I feel great about it.”
Drew Gilchrist, regional director of land protection for the trust, said some of the money used to buy the land came from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The agency has specific covenants that limit the development of the property.
Gilchrist said the trust hopes to have a land manager on site later this year, followed by a recreation and public access plan for the property. The property will be used for recreation, such as still-to-be-constructed hiking trails.
Gilchrist called the acquisition a “tremendous conservation milestone.”
“This property is bigger than some state parks,” Gilchrist said. “There’s a lot of frontage along the Lehigh River and it protects the wooded corridor leading into the Francis E. Walter Dam.
“There’s some real unique habitats on this property, such as barrens, and we’ll be able to keep it as one healthy, contiguous piece.”
Peter Williamson, vice president of conservation services for the trust, said the Haas family chose to name the property the Bear Creek Preserve. He commended the Haas family for contacting the trust to preserve the property.
“It’s a remarkable act of generosity on their part to set this up for public use,” Williamson said. “It’s going to take us time to get a management plan going, but there will be signs of activity within the next year.”
The property adjoins another protected parcel consisting of 3,018 acres owned by the New Pocono Trust. The North Branch Land Trust holds the conservation easement to the property.
The two properties combined total more than 6,400 acres in Bear Creek and Buck townships that will be protected. Rick Koval, a land protection specialist with the North Branch Land Trust, said the acquisition of the Haas property is a “welcome situation.”
“It eliminates the threat of not knowing what’s going to happen to the land adjoining the parcel we’re protecting,” Koval said. “Having this much property conserved in one big area is a huge benefit to wildlife and the public. It’s phenomenal.”
Gilchrist said his organization, which has preserved 19,000 acres in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, hopes to work on agreements with other landowners in the area.
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