KNOX—One of the Hilltowns’ original plots of land may be preserved from development forever.

At a town-board meeting last Tuesday, the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy asked the town to apply to the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets for a grant to purchase a conservation easement on 250 acres of land belonging to Mark Scott. Contained entirely in the land is one of the original great lots owned by the Van Rensselaer patroon family.

The land was also the site of the final battle of the Anti-Rent Wars, a conflict between the feudal patroons and the farmers who were forced to pay rent on their property.
"It’s like an antique," Scott told The Enterprise.

When he bought the land 20 years ago, Scott said, he didn’t know about its history, but then a friend recommended he read Tin Horns and Calico: A Decisive Episode in the Emergence of Democracy, Henry Christman’s book about the Anti-Rent Wars.

In the book, Christman describes a standoff on the property, which was then Peter Warner’s farm. In July of 1866, Between 70 and 80 anti-rent farmers gathered at the farm while the army, led by Colonel Walter Church, approached.
"The farmers scattered...but Church’s ‘skirmishers worked well,’ and eight prisoners were taken. Shots were fired at the fleeing farmers, and at least one was wounded," Christman writes.
Warner and his family, however, "maintained the most stoical indifference in the face of the disturbance, even when Colonel Church and his soldiers broke into the house," Christman writes.

Scott has a much more amicable relationship with his tenant. He rents out farmland to his neighbor, Harold Zimmer.

Scott said he had been trying to find a way to preserve his land from development for several years when he learned about the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy from its president, Daniel Driscoll. Both men are members of the Knox Planning Board.

If Scott were to sell the easement to the conservancy, he would forfeit his development rights on the property.
"The countryside is vanishing," Scott said. He doesn’t want that to happen on his land.
"My thinking is, my legacy will be that I was the one who preserved it," he said.

He compared it to the vintage motorcycles he collects.
"You wouldn’t paint flames on the tank of an Indian motorcycle, and I wouldn’t want to see houses on the top of the hill here," Scott said.

Driscoll and the conservancy’s new executive director, Jill Knapp, addressed the town board Tuesday. They said the Department of Agriculture and Markets allows only governmental organizations to apply for the grant.

First, Driscoll said, the conservancy asked the Albany County Farmland Protection Bureau to apply for the grant, but the bureau declined, offering to send a letter of endorsement instead.

The conservancy owns 12 preserves in Albany County and one in Montgomery County. It also owns one easement, on Indian Ladder Farms in New Scotland, which it got through a similar grant, applied for by the town of New Scotland, Driscoll said.

If Knox agreed, Driscoll said, the conservancy would prepare the grant application, hold the easement, and perform the required easement inspections. If the town preferred, Driscoll said, Knox could hold the easement.

When the easement was appraised four years ago, Driscoll said, it was worth $150,000. Scott is willing to sell it at a 25-percent discount, Driscoll said.

Supervisor Michael Hammond asked how such an easement would affect the town’s tax base. Driscoll responded that, in New York, taxes are assessed based on the current use of the property.
"By taking away the development rights and putting the easement on a property, you don’t change the current use," he said.

The town board was generally in favor of applying for the grant.
"I’m a supporter of the idea," said Councilman Nicholas Viscio. "It’s right down the pipe of what the comprehensive plan intends to do."

The town’s attorney, however, was hesitant. John Dorfman said he had not heard about the easement until the town board meeting.
"It sounds fantastic, but I have absolutely no idea how to advise the board on it," Dorfman said.

For example, Dorfman asked if the town could back out of an easement agreement if the grant is received but the easement is unsatisfactory.

Since the grant application is due soon, Jan. 23, the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy agreed to start work on it while Dorfman researches the legal ramifications for the town. Dorfman said he will talk to New Scotland’s attorney.

Other business:

In other business at the Dec. 13 meeting, the Knox Town Board:

—Held a public hearing on the town’s Section 8 housing program, for residents with low incomes. Section 8 administrator Joe Mastriani told the board people stay in the Section 8 program for an average of four to five years, and seven to 10 years if they are elderly or disabled;

—Scheduled the 2006 reorganizational meeting for Jan. 1 at 9 a.m.;

—Sold used town equipment to the highest bidder: a 1986 Mac RD600 truck, a 1958 FWD snowblower, and a 40-yard roll-off container. Mike Oliver, of Davenport, got the truck for $7,000. Gary Hollenbeck, of Sloansville, got the snowblower for $750 and the container for $1,750;

—Heard a request from Robert Price for a crosswalk in the hamlet of Knox across Route 156 in front of the post office. Although the speed limit there is 45 miles per hour, Price said, he saw a crosswalk in Schoharie where the limit is 40 miles per hour.
"I think it would make the hamlet a little bit more friendly," Price said.

Hammond said he would ask the state about it;

—Discussed advertising for a secretary for the planning board and the zoning board of appeals. Price, the planning board chairman, estimated the job would pay about $600 per year; and

—Recognized Councilman Charles Conklin for his 10 years on the town board. It was his last meeting. Conklin did not run for reelection because he has been ill with cancer.
"Your contributions to the board have been very valuable," Hammond told Conklin. "We hope the best for you."

Conklin said he’s looking forward to coming back to town board meetings and serving on committees once his health improves.
"It’s been very exciting for me," Conklin said. "I’ve learned a lot."

It was also the last meeting for town clerk Deborah Liddle, who lost the fall election to Kimberly Swain.