Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Lambarth Property in Lodi Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Appropriate $228,500.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the purchase of a conservation easement on approximately 142 acres of property owned by Lambarth Farms in Lodi Township. The resolution also appropriates $228,500.00 (50% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to the Washtenaw County Natural Areas Preservation Program and the County has been the lead agency in the negotiations with the landowners. The County commissioned an appraisal, completed in April 2019, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $457,000.00. The County is the lead agency and will be the holder of the conservation easement. In addition to the acquisition costs below, the County will cover due diligence and closing costs.
Lambarth Farms Property, Lodi Township
The property consists of 2 parcels of approximately 171 total acres located in Section 16 and 21 of Lodi Township with legal access from Pleasant Lake Road. It is owned by Lambarth Farms. The property scored in the top 21% (79th percentile) of agricultural land applications received by the Greenbelt Program in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The conservation easement will cover approximately 142 acres of the property, which contain 18 acres of forest and 34 acres of wetlands and floodplain forest. The property is located 0.8 miles from the Greenbelt's Lindemann Conservation Easement and 1 mile from the Greenbelt's Drake South and Darke North Conservation Easements purchased with funds from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Milla...
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