Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Heydon Property in Webster Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Webster Township, and Appropriate $128,250.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Webster Township for the purchase of a conservation easement on the 29.7-acre Heydon property in Webster Township. The resolution also approves an appropriation of funds not to exceed $128,250.00 (45% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to Webster Township's land preservation program and the Township has been the lead agency in the negotiations with the landowner. The Township commissioned an appraisal with a date of value October 27, 2023, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $285,000.00. As the lead agency, the Township will be the holder of the conservation easement and will cover due diligence and closing costs in addition to the acquisition costs below.
Heydon Property, Webster Township
The property is approximately 29.7 acres and fronts on Joy Road at the intersection with Jennings Road. It is owned by the Peter N. Heydon Trust. Approximately one third of the land is farmed for hay while the rest is forested. Some of the forest is floodplain forest, a less commonly found vegetation community in the area. It's a strong site for water quality protection, with evidence of significant groundwater infiltration and 1000ft of Boyden creek passes through on its way to the Huron River. Adjacent to the property lies Legacy Land Conservancy's Woodland Preserve, for which a special allowance for a small parking lot is being negotiated into the easement for public access. The property scored in the 78th percentile of agricultural applications and 76th percentile of open space applications received by the Greenbelt in the scoring systems de...
Click here for full text