Longtime staff member of Brandywine Conservancy receives recognition from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

Longtime staff member of Brandywine Conservancy receives recognition from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

Chadds Ford, PA, August 5, 2020 — The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (PALTA) recently recognized the Brandywine Conservancy’s John Theilacker, AICP Certified Planner, with an award for his 22 years of conservation advocacy and land use planning work throughout the Commonwealth. During his time at the Brandywine Conservancy, as an associate director, Theilacker has worked tirelessly helping Pennsylvania municipalities develop practical, innovative ways to balance protecting and enhancing natural resources while supporting community resilience.

“We are thrilled John is being recognized at the State level for the many achievements over his career at the Brandywine," noted Ellen Ferretti, Director of the Brandywine Conservancy. “In the ever-evolving field of conservation, John’s experience and leadership combined with a willingness to adapt new approaches to long standing conservation issues has won him the appreciation and admiration of municipal leaders as well as his peers. This award is well-deserved.”

A certified planner, Theilacker has co-authored 12 PALTA planning guides for municipal use and is one of the principal authors of the Brandywine Conservancy’s Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Manual (2003) and the 2008 Lancaster County TDR Practitioner’s Handbook. He has also presented at numerous conferences at the national, state and local levels including the American Planning Association National Conference, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conference, and several Land Trust Alliance National Conferences and Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conferences. He has been a volunteer member of the West Chester Borough Planning Commission for a number of years, including as the chair of the commission.

About the Brandywine Conservancy:

The Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation. Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies. The Conservancy currently holds over 485 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of more than 66,000 acres of land. The Conservancy is a program of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.

About the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art:

The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites, and important artists. The Conservancy protects the lands throughout the Brandywine Valley, developing new conservation approaches and assuring access to majestic open spaces and dependable water supplies for generations to come. The Museum of Art presents and collects historic and contemporary works of American art, engaging and exciting visitors of all ages through an array of exhibitions and programs. The Brandywine unites the inspiring experiences of art and nature, enhancing the quality of life in its community and among its diverse audiences.

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