Rhode Island General Laws 44-27-1. Legislative declaration
It is declared:
(1) That it is in the public interest to encourage the preservation of farm, forest, and open space land in order to maintain a readily available source of food and farm products close to the metropolitan areas of the state, to conserve the state’s natural resources, and to provide for the welfare and happiness of the inhabitants of the state.
(2) That it is in the public interest to prevent the forced conversion of farm, forest, and open space land to more intensive uses as the result of economic pressures caused by the assessment for purposes of property taxation at values incompatible with their preservation as farm, forest, and open space land.
(3) That the necessity in the public interest of the enactment of the provisions of this chapter is a matter of legislative determination.
History of Section.
P.L. 1980, ch. 252, § 2.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 44-27-1
- Open space land: means any tract or contiguous tracts of undeveloped land, where the undeveloped land serves to enhance agricultural values, or land in its natural state that conserves forests, enhances wildlife habitat or protects ecosystem health, and that is:
(i) Ten (10) total acres or larger, exclusive of house site, where "house site" means the zoned lot size or one acre, whichever is smaller, and land surrounding dwellings or devoted to developed facilities, such as tennis courts, pool, etc. See Rhode Island General Laws 44-27-2