Richmond (Map, News) - A nonprofit conservation group is criticizing proposed legislation it says would scale back incentives for preserving open land in Northern Virginia, where development is lucrative and vacant land is increasingly scarce.

In 1999, the Virginia General Assembly passed a tax credit program to give residents an incentive for putting their land into permanent conservation easements or other preservation uses. Last year, the legislature capped that program at $100 million dollars, with an annual increase scaled to the changing price of goods.

Legislation proposed this year would scrap that adjustment for a flat annual increase of $2.5 million, which Northern Virginia Conservation Trust President Michael Nardolilli argued is a turn for the worse.

“The question is whether or not it’s better than existing law,” Nardolilli said. “And existing law is better.”

The issue is of particular relevance because land is so expensive in Northern Virginia as compared with much of the rest of the state, and development has progressively eroded the region’s stock of vacant acres. While the proposed change is “not as bad as it could be,” Nardolilli worries it could be a precursor to completely scrapping the annual increase and holding the cap to a fixed amount.

“The bottom line is we need assistance in keeping nearby nature in Northern Virginia, because we’re the economic engine of the state,” he said. “If people perceive that the quality of life is deteriorating in Northern Virginia, the state will suffer and the state coffers will suffer.”

The bill, proposed by Del. Robert Hull, D-Falls Church, has been referred to the house Committee on Finance. Hull could not be reached Monday for comment.

wflook@dcexaminer.com