Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Moehrle Property in Ann Arbor Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Ann Arbor Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Appropriate $186,500.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Ann Arbor Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the purchase of a conservation easement on a 114-acre property owned by Otto and Carolyn Moehrle in Ann Arbor Township. The resolution also approves an appropriation of funds not to exceed $186,500.00 (16.6% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to the Ann Arbor 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 2019, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $1,119,000.00. The Township is the lead agency and will be the holder of the conservation easement. In addition to the acquisition costs below, the Township will cover due diligence and closing costs.
Moehrle Property, Ann Arbor Township
The property is approximately 114 acres and is located in Section 4 of Ann Arbor Township with legal access from Joy Road. It is owned by Otto and Carolyn Moehrle. The property scored in the top 37% of open space applications received by the Greenbelt Program in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The property contains 13 acres of forest and 35 acres of wetlands. The property is located adjacent to the Northfield Woods Preserve owned by Washtenaw County and is within 0.25 miles of the Braun conservation easement purchased with funds from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage. The Greenbelt Advisory Commission considers this parcel a pr...
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