Sharon Township has drafted a comprehensive Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Land Preservation Ordinance to acquire conservation easements, development rights, or fee title interests in farmland and open space. The ordinance empowers the Township Board and Land Preservation Committee (LPC) to accept applications from landowners, score and prioritize properties, perform title work, appraisals, environmental assessments and surveys, and then negotiate and close transactions. Because this is a framework ordinance, vendors to support implementation (appraisers, environmental consultants, land surveyors, land conservancies, legal services, and program administration tools) have not yet been selected and will be needed on a recurring basis as properties move through the pipeline.The ordinance also explicitly allows the Township to contract with nonprofit land conservancies and other qualified groups for acquisition, evaluation, negotiation support, and stewardship, creating a multi‑year stream of professional services opportunities once the program is activated and funded.

The ordinance authorizes use of a Land Preservation Fund and bond issuance, and allows annual public notices inviting landowner applications; it contemplates ongoing monitoring and enforcement of conservation easements.