The northern and
northeastern sides of the property are undisturbed and forested with horse
trails. The forest is a mix of young and mature mixed deciduous trees
with a thick understory of shrubs in many places. The northern portion of
the property is enclosed by a deer fence and native understory trees have been
allowed to grow. The forest is dominated by sugar maple, red oak, tulip
poplar, black birch, and hickory trees. The knoll south of the building
envelope is undeveloped and forested with black oak, white oak, red oak, black
birch, red maple and has an understory of lowbush blueberry. A stream
corridor runs northeast along the northern boundary, into a pond and then north
off the property eventually into a tributary draining north into the Cross
River Reservoir. An intermittent stream/wetland area on the northeast end
of the property drains east off the site into the same tributary mentioned
above. Some fringe wetland plants exist including skunk cabbage.
The property has significant natural habitat value. It protects habitat for numerous species of plants and animals native to the area including breeding birds and reptile and and amphibians. The property is also located within the Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor and helps maintain valuable wildlife corridors on a landscape level and is important to the region's biodiversity. The property connects to 13.5 acres of land already preserved under conservation easements held by the Westchester Land Trust. The property also protects uplands, slopes, and streams which drain north into a tributary of the Cross River Reservoir, part of the Croton River Reservoir System and drinking water supply for New York City and surrounding areas.
The property has significant public benefit and protects open space pursuant to governmental policy. ... In addition, this easement helps fulfill the mandates of the intermunicipal agreement entered into by Pound Ridge, Bedford, Lewisboro and North Salem to preserve valuable habitat within the Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor. The Town of Bedford's 2002 comprehensive plan, adopted and approved by the Town Board on April 5, 2003 following public hearings, declares the protection of "large estates...(with the goals of) preserving the inventory of agricultural lands" to be Town policy. The comprehensive plan expressly recommends the use of conservation easements to help realize the Town's conservation goals. The New York State Constitution, Article 14, Section 4, provides that it is "the policy of the state to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty" and directs the legislature to provide for the protection of agricultural lands as well as wetlands and water resources.
The property has significant natural habitat value. It protects habitat for numerous species of plants and animals native to the area including breeding birds and reptile and and amphibians. The property is also located within the Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor and helps maintain valuable wildlife corridors on a landscape level and is important to the region's biodiversity. The property connects to 13.5 acres of land already preserved under conservation easements held by the Westchester Land Trust. The property also protects uplands, slopes, and streams which drain north into a tributary of the Cross River Reservoir, part of the Croton River Reservoir System and drinking water supply for New York City and surrounding areas.
The property has significant public benefit and protects open space pursuant to governmental policy. ... In addition, this easement helps fulfill the mandates of the intermunicipal agreement entered into by Pound Ridge, Bedford, Lewisboro and North Salem to preserve valuable habitat within the Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor. The Town of Bedford's 2002 comprehensive plan, adopted and approved by the Town Board on April 5, 2003 following public hearings, declares the protection of "large estates...(with the goals of) preserving the inventory of agricultural lands" to be Town policy. The comprehensive plan expressly recommends the use of conservation easements to help realize the Town's conservation goals. The New York State Constitution, Article 14, Section 4, provides that it is "the policy of the state to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty" and directs the legislature to provide for the protection of agricultural lands as well as wetlands and water resources.