ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 9, 1996 TAG: 9611110010
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
RUPERT CUTLER took hold of an ambitious dream when he became executive director of the embryonic Explore Park, and from it helped create a successful, albeit more modest and still emerging, reality.
Explore as conceived by visionary Bern Ewert - a history-theme amusement park that would draw hordes of tourists - never got off the drawing boards. Explore as executed by environmentalist Cutler - a living-history park and education center that would draw not only a steady stream of tourists but schoolchildren and nature-lovers - is open and growing.
It is not complete. But Cutler's indefatigable leadership and salesmanship have assured it a solid foundation on which to build.
This week he announced plans to leave Explore, to take on yet another embryonic dream. It, too, aims to help preserve the natural beauty of mountains and valleys in Western Virginia - but on a scale that could far exceed the 1,300 acres protected by the state park.
Once a new executive director is found for the public-private Explore project, Cutler will become the first executive director of the newly formed Western Virginia Land Trust.
The success of this trust may be critical to preserving, as much as possible, the natural face of the region's mountains and valleys. Which, in turn, is critical to maintaining the quality of life of the region's residents, protecting our wildlife, conserving our resources and preserving our history.
The idea is to keep the place livable and true to its character, while developing a sustainable economy attractive to visitors, newcomers and clean, new industries. Growth can be clustered where there already is infrastructure, thereby enhancing communities and saving open space.
A land trust can help by giving private landowners a way to preserve undeveloped land for future generations - land that often must be sold for residential or commercial development when estate taxes have to be paid.
The new trust can help property owners set up voluntary conservation easements to protect land in Western and Southwestern Virginia that is valued for its scenic views, wildlife habitat, historic significance or greenway use. The way trusts usually work: Owners are able to use the land as they always have, and receive tax breaks in exchange for protecting it from misguided development.
Local land trusts are spreading quickly throughout the nation, and for good reason. Private organizations can sometimes act more quickly and efficiently than municipal agencies, and can preserve critical sites without imposing broad government regulation - or new taxes.
Land trusts are no substitute for a government that takes land-use planning seriously. But they are an excellent tool, especially in concert with other tools. Like Explore, the concept has been slow to develop here. It will be the job once again of the irrepressible Cutler to convert fancies into facts.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB