Item:
Title
Approve a Conservation Easement agreement with Neil and Catherine Frank for 30 acres at 1300 Red Mountain Road, Rougemont
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: August 12, 2024
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve an option to purchase a farmland conservation easement with Neil and Catherine Frank at 1300 Red Mountain Road, to use existing open space capital project funds to support 50% of the easement cost, and to authorize the Manager to execute federal grant agreement documents if funds are awarded. The Frank's 30-acre parcel (REID 190588) is part of their larger farm property, Caywood Farm, that provides "humanely raised grass-fed beef to the local community." Durham County currently holds a conservation easement (2012) on their adjacent 300 acres and the Frank's want to protect their entire farm with this second easement. The Durham Farmland Protection Advisory Board recommended approval of a farm easement on this additional area of Caywood Farm at their November 2023 meeting.
Staff have applied for USDA-NRCS Agricultural Lands Easement (ALE) Program funds and have received positive feedback that funds are likely. In anticipation of award notification in September 2024 the County needs a signed commitment (real estate option) securing the County's and owner's commitment to the project. The real estate option gives the County the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the easement. Federal ALE funds would pay 50% of the approved appraised conservation easement value. The county's estimated total costs for the easement (including 50% of the easement value, survey, appraisals, and closing costs) should not exceed $245,000. The county's open space and farmland capital project account has sufficient funds to pay the county's portion, so no additional funding is needed for this easement. If an ALE grant is awarded and the project continues, a final budget will be brought to the Board prior to closing.
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