Title
Resolution to Approve a Participation Agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, and Superior Township and Appropriate $300,000.00 for Purchase of Fee Title to and Establishment of a Conservation Easement on the Stepien Trust Property (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement and appropriates $300,000.00 from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase of fee title to and establishment of a conservation easement on approximately 80 acres of land owned by the Stepien Trust, located in Superior Township. The resolution also appropriates $300,000.00 from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds.
Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy has agreed to become the fee title holder of the property and to pay for the establishment of a publicly accessible nature preserve with a parking lot, trails, and signage. Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy will also endow and operate the public nature preserve going forward. Washtenaw County will hold a conservation easement on the property to ensure its long-term protection as open space.
Stepien Trust Property, Superior Township
The property is approximately 80 acres with access from Berry Road. This acquisition, along with the adjoining Weatherbee Woods property and Superior Township's Schroeter Park property, would create an uninterrupted 278 acres of protected land on the east side of Berry Road from Ford Road to Warren Road. The property includes an old-growth oak woods on the north side, where it adjoins the Weatherbee Woods Preserve. The east side adjoins an 82-acre parcel of protected farmland. Along with the successional farm fields on the south end, the property provides a range of habitat diversity, with a particularly rich variety of bird species.
Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission commissioned an appraisal which was completed in March 23, 2018. The fair mar...
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