Title
Resolution to Approve the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Kennedy Property in Northfield Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Appropriate $756,367.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves the purchase of a conservation easement on the Kennedy Property in Northfield Township. The resolution also approves a participation agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation and appropriates up to $457,617.00 for the purchase from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Fund.
On December 16, 2019 (R-19-555), City Council approved a grant application to the NRCS - Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for the Kennedy Property in Northfield Township. On September 16, 2019, City Council approved the acceptance of grant funds in the amount of $264,250.00 under an agreement with NRCS to be applied toward the purchase of a conservation easement on the property (R-20-311).
Kennedy Property, Northfield Township
The farm is approximately 100 acres and is located along Sutton Road in Northfield Township. The property is considered large enough to sustain agricultural production and is in a location that will encourage additional farmland and agricultural preservation activities. It is adjacent to an existing Greenbelt project. The property scored in the top 90% of all Greenbelt applications in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The protection of this property is a priority for the Greenbelt Program due to the size and quality of the farmland, proximity to other protected properties, and possibility to leverage funds from federal and other local sources of funding. The property also meets the priorities for both the Greenbelt Program and ACEP Program.
An appraisal for a conservation easement on the property was completed in in October 2019, and updated in September 2020, which determined the fair market value to be $...
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