Title
Resolution to Approve the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Hamilton Family Living Trust Property in Salem Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Appropriate $2,871,667.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves the purchase of a conservation easement on property owned by the Hamilton Family Living Trust Property in Salem Township. The resolution also approves a participation agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation and appropriates up to $2,871,667.00 for the purchase from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Fund.
On January 6, 2020 (R-19-591), City Council approved a grant application to the NRCS - Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for the Hamilton Family Living Trust Property in Salem Township. On August 17, 2020 (R-20-312), City Council approved the acceptance of grant funds in the amount of $1,749,300.00 under a Parcel Contract with NRCS to be applied toward the purchase of a conservation easement on the property.
Hamilton Family Living Trust Property, Salem Township
The farm is approximately 375 acres and is located along Five Mile Road in Salem 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, and is the largest application in the Greenbelt Program's history. It is adjacent to an existing Greenbelt easement. The property scored in the top 80% 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 fo...
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