2006 News

October 2, 2006

Bucks County Commissioners Initiate Open Space Task Force II With Brainstorming Session

Commissioners Miller and Martin at the StMember of the Open Space Task Force II Since it was approved by Bucks County residents in 1997, the county’s $59 million open-space referendum has triggered enormous participation from Durham to Bensalem, and Penndel to Perkasie.

Eager to build upon that referendum’s success while defining the county’s ongoing open space, municipal, park and historical preservation as well as agricultural preservation direction, the commissioners met with the 24 members of the recently appointed Open Space Task Force II, Sept. 29, at Peace Valley Nature Center.

“We want you to think in whatever ways you wish,” commissioners’ Chairman Jim Cawley told the group. “We want you to have fun, too,” Commissioner Charles H. Martin added.

“One of the good things about the 1997 plan was that it had something for everyone,” Commissioner Sandra A. Miller said.

Chaired by Bensalem Township’s Tony Belfield, the Open Space Task Force II includes several members of the original Bucks County Open Space Task Force, which convened during the mid-1990’s.

After receiving direction from the commissioners and Chief Operating Officer David M. Sanko, Open Space Task Force II spent nearly two hours pondering its mission. A list of subcommittees was proposed, and a second meeting was scheduled for mid-October.

“We need to explore what the county’s population is going to look like 50 years from now,” Belfield insisted. “Ten years ago, our goal was preserve 10,000 farmland acres. We are going to meet that goal. But things change. It’s such a different climate than it was 10 years ago.” In addition to the agriculturally productive land preserved by Bucks County, an additional 12,000-plus acres of open space has been preserved.

Unlike the initial Open Space Task Force, which established a clear priority of maximizing land acquisition, its successor will look at natural areas, trails and parks, historical preservation, and the critical issue of land maintenance.

Praising the commissioners’ open-space initiatives, the commissioners characterize Bucks County as unique, adding that the community distinguishes itself throughout the commonwealth as one that has prompted local action to address open-space preservation matters.

As Open Space Task Force II forges ahead to an early-2007 recommendation to the commissioners, Planning Commission Executive Director Lynn Bush suggested the committee examine four significant questions.

  • Where are we today?
  • What are the various forces impacting on us?
  • Where do we want to be?
  • How do we get there, and with what implementation?

On a similar note, Belfield compared the 1997 open-space resolution to a “seed that was planted.” Everyone associated with Open Space Task Force II is eager to see what kind of fruit their efforts will grow.

Members of the task force include:

Kenneth Beer, Hilltown

Tony Belfield, Bensalem (chairman)

Peter Boor, Doylestown

Susanne Curran, Yardley

Darren Eppley, Southampton

Jim Ewing, Bensalem

Nicholas Forte, Erwinna

Mike Fournier, Doylestown

Frank Froio, Plumsteadville

Fred Groshens, New Britain

Susan Hewitt, Newtown

Marilyn Jacobson, Chalfont

Nancy Keenan, Perkasie

George Kirakidi, Hartsville

Jorden Krauss, Pipersville

Barbara Lyons, Doylestown

Norman MacArthur, Erwinna

Jane Magne, Penn’s Park

Jeffrey Marshall, Doylestown

Hon. William Rufe, Perkasie (vice-chairman)

Michelle Smyser, Lahaska

James Walsh, Pennsburg

Hon. Katharine Watson, Warrington

William Wert, Newtown

Planning Commission Executive Director Lynn Bush, Parks and Recreation Executive Director William Mitchell, Agricultural Preservation Program Director Rich Harvey and Open Space Director Kris Kern serve as ex officio members of the task force by virtue of their county position, while maintaining non-voting status.