Rick Pruetz is a planning consultant specializing in open space preservation strategies. He received his Master of Urban Planning degree in 1979 and served as the City Planner of Burbank, California for more than 14 years before starting a consulting practice in 1999. In 2004, Rick was honored with membership in the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Rick’s consulting practice has focused on transfer of development rights, or TDR, including workshops, feasibility studies and ordinances. He has written three books on TDR including Beyond Takings and Givings: Saving Natural Areas, Farmland and Historic Landmarks with Transfer of Development Rights and Density Transfer Charges. He also maintains a TDR web site at www.BeyondTakingsAndGivings.com. In addition, Rick has written about TDR for the Brookings Institution and several publications of the American Planning Association including the Journal of the American Planning Association, Planning & Environmental Law, Planning, PAS Memo and The Commissioner. In addition to conducting dozens of presentations throughout the country, Rick has prepared TDR studies and/or ordinances for over 20 communities nationwide.

Through his consulting practice, Rick has realized that public support for preservation is essential to the success of a community’s conservation effort. That realization led to his exploration of the preservation leaders profiled in Green Legacy. To encourage future conservation efforts, Rick manages a website at www.GreenLegacy.net where the contents of this book are posted and where additional communities can be suggested for recognition.