Item:
Title
Approve Two Farmland Conservation Easement Projects - Ken and Janine Wolfe for 30 acres at 1444 Bacon Road, Rougemont and Clifford and Raelene Teasley for 17 acres at 6815 Wiley Mangum Road, Bahama
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: September 9, 2024
Request For Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve two options to purchase two farmland conservation easements, one with Ken and Janine Wolfe at 1444 Bacon Road, Rougemont and one with Clifford and Raelene Teasley at 6815 Wiley Mangum Road, to use existing open space capital project funds to support 50% of the easements’ costs, and to authorize the Manager to execute grant agreement documents if funds are awarded. The Wolfes’ 30-acre parcel (REID 189562) is adjacent to 64 acres of protected farmland and includes 13 acres of open land. The Teasleys’ land (REID 191649), Triangle Farm, consists of 17 acres of hay land and operational areas for Mr. Teasley’s hay business and is along the North Durham Country Byway. The Durham Farmland Protection Advisory Board recommended approval of both farm easement projects in August 2024.
The 2024 USDA-NRCS Agricultural Lands Easement (ALE) Program cycle has a submission deadline of October 4, 2024. For farms to be eligible for consideration, the County needs to have a signed commitment (real estate option) securing the County’s and owner’s intent to proceed if funding is approved. The real estate options give the County the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the easements. ALE funds would pay 50% of the approved appraised conservation easement values. The County’s estimated total costs for both easements (including 50% of the easement value, survey, appraisals, and closing costs) should not exceed $270,000. 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 these two easements. If ALE funds are awarded and the projects continue, final budgets will be brought to the Board for approval prior to closing.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The acquisition of farmland conservation easements for permanent open space aligns with Strategic Plan Focus Area: Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Objective SI 3: Preserve and restore the natural and built environment, and SI 3d: Protect and restore natural resources, land, recreational, historical, and rural spaces.
Resource Persons: Celeste Burns, Open Space & Real Estate Manager; Peri Manns, Deputy Director of Engineering and Environmental Services, Jay Gibson, P.E., Director of Engineer and Environmental Services
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve two options to purchase two farmland conservation easements, one with Ken and Janine Wolfe at 1444 Bacon Road, Rougemont and one with Clifford and Raelene Teasley at 6815 Wiley Mangum Road, to use existing open space capital project funds to support 50% of the easements’ costs, and to authorize the Manager to execute grant agreement documents if funds are awarded.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________