Title
Resolution to Approve Participation Agreement with Webster Township and Washtenaw County and Appropriate $280,000.00 from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage for Purchase of Development Rights on the Carol Smith Trust Property (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Webster Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation for the purchase of development rights through a conservation easement on a 145.5-acre property owned by the Carol E. Smith Trust in Webster Township. The resolution also approves an appropriation of funds not to exceed $280,000.00 (33% of purchase price) for the purchase from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage Proceeds.
The landowners applied to the Webster Township Purchase of Development Rights Program and the Township has been the lead agency in the negotiations with the landowners. The Township commissioned an appraisal, completed in October 2017, that determined the fair market value of the development rights on the property to be $845,000.00. The Township is the lead agency and will be the grantee of the conservation easement.
Carol Smith Trust Property, Webster Township
The property is approximately 145.5 acres and is located in Section 21 of Webster Township with legal access from Zeeb Road. It is owned by the Carol E. Smith Trust. The property scored in the top 15% of applications received by the Greenbelt Program in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The property contains 36 acres of forest, 50 acres of wetlands and floodplain forest, 18 acres of grassland, with the remainder being old agricultural fields. Arms Creek runs along the northern border of the parcel, and it is located within the Huron River watershed. Huron River Watershed Council completed a field assessment of the property in 2016 and determined that the wetlands were of significantly higher than average quality. The property is located adj...
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