Meeting |
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Report |
Meeting |
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Report |
August 7, 2001 |
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| Businessman and community volunteer Frank Bragg
came to Charlotte Rotary Tuesday touting the "miracle of the conservation
easement." "Let me make this clear: I am not a tree hugger. I am a conservative businessman who believes that the private sector does things best," the vice president and board member of the Catawba Lands Conservancy said. "I do enjoy the outdoors and it is obvious that Charlotte (unlike my hometown of Oxford) needs to preserve some open space since it is fast disappearing. "A conservation easement is a voluntary legal restriction of land use," the founder of Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc., said. "Because the landowner gives up something of value (development rights), the landowner receives significant tax benefits." Bragg, who's been in Charlotte since the 1960s, has seen significant development in Charlotte and the loss of lots of open space in that time of rapid growth in the Queen City and Mecklenburg County. Said the Wake Forest University graduate, when his family moved to a 28-acre farm on Providence Road West in the 70s, "you could sleep in the street. There was no traffic!" In the early 80s his farm became surrounded by development and his 28 acres became very small. "We loved our farm, but the quality of life was lost." the founder of Right Moves for Youth said. So he bought 127 acres near Huntersville, "and after shedding many tears, we moved from our farm in Lower Providence." Bragg said he learned of conservation easements on fishing trips to Montana. Easements have been used there for years and "permanently protect millions of acres." There are some 1,400 land trusts in the country. North Carolina has 24. "I decided to grant easements on our Huntersville farm to be sure that what happened on our South Mecklenburg farm did not happen again. He then went to work on his neighbors to get them to do the same thing. Nine landowners have protected 700 acres and "we hope to add several hundred acres more this year. "Instead of 3,000 housing units on 700 acres, there will be only 22," the Oxford native said. "Don't get me wrong. I am not opposed to development. I simply think we need a balance of quality development plus some open space and green space. "And the Catawba Lands Conservancy is not opposed to development. We are not a political organization," he emphasized. "We know our economy depends on development." The Conservancy serves six counties and has 3,000 acres protected with plans for 5,000 in a year and 10,000 in five. There are four ways to do this, he said. Someone donates the land or the development rights (through a permanent easement) or the organization buys the land or the easement. He pointed out the Rhyne family farm in Gaston County. The property has been in the same family for more than 200 years. The landowners want to keep the land as a farm and live on it but had no financial incentive to grant easements. In this case, the CLC is purchasing the development rights. The family will get $330,000 for the easement and it will never be developed. Said Bragg, ever the financial advisor, there are great income and estate tax advantages. There are federal, state and local tax advantages. "A few years ago," the father of new member Benton Bragg said, "I was at one of Charlotte's big uptown law firms for the closing on our 28-acre farm. It was selling for a large amount of money for an Oxford boy." Bragg said he told a neighbor, "I would gladly give back all the money if we could have back the quality of life we enjoyed on our farm. 1 meant that. You see, it is all about quality of life. "You are here today because this Club enhances your quality of life," the member of the Wake Forest University Board of Advisors said. "We all seek to improve the quality of our lives! Open space, green space, all add quality to our lives and provide a place for the hardwood forest, the deer, rabbits, the whippoorwill, and my favorite, the bobwhite. "The conservation easement is the permanent way to add quality to all our lives." Henry Bostic introduced Bragg. Harry Daugherty introduced guests and visitors. Chuck Lew gave a brief health and happiness report. President Jim praised the brevity of the report with obvious reference to last week's somewhat lengthy report by Ed Ellis. Thomas Moore, back after a brief absence, not only regaled us with his usual lunchtime keyboard treats but also led in a song. Tom Norwood gave the invocation. Bronnie McNabb introduced our newest member, first amendment legal expert Jonathan E. Buchan. * * * |
New Member
Joined 1999 Foundations, Community Foundation for the Carolinas Bart Landess grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, attended Davidson College, and then returned to Charlottesville to attend UVA law school after two years in Washington, D.C., working for the Justice Department and Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia. He moved to Charlotte in 1986 and worked for Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore in their corporate department. He then worked for Davidson College in their development office during the $150 million Campaign for Davidson, and as general counsel and executive assistant to the president thereafter. He joined Foundation For The Carolinas in February 2000 as their senior vice president, Donor Services. Bart is married to Fran Could Landess and they have four children, ranging in age from 6 to 13. The oldest is a girl and the younger three are boys. Besides keeping up with the children, Bart enjoys running (though not as much as when his legs were younger and stronger), music (though all his favorites are now played during the retro shows on the radio), and teaching (though it seems that most of his lessons are met with skepticism). The Landesses are members of Davidson College Presbyterian Church, though they anticipate returning to First Presbyterian Church, where they were members for eleven years, as they return to Charlotte. In addition to serving as chair of the Board of Deacons and a member of the Session at First Presbyterian, Bart has been chair of the Board of Community Food Rescue, an organization that picks up perishable food from those who don't need or want it and delivers it to those who do, and a member of the board of the Ada Jenkins Community Center in Davidson and the Davidson Housing Coalition. Bart was previously a member of the North Mecklenburg Rotary for one year before taking his present position at the Foundation For The Carolinas and being overwhelmed by the commute. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Bart. * * * |
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