Title
Resolution to Approve a Participation Agreement with Superior Township and Appropriate $198,000.00 for Purchase of Fee Title to the MLC Cherry Hill Property (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement Superior Township for the purchase of fee title to approximately 161.84 acres of land owned by the Michigan Land Conservancy, located in Scio Township. The resolution also appropriates $193,000.00 from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
Michigan Land Conservancy (MLC) is a nonprofit that only acts as a temporary holder of conservation land; land owned by MLC should not be considered permanently protected. MLC’s function is to quickly purchase threatened, important conservation land from private ownership, and hold onto it in its undeveloped state while a permanent conservation organization or government assembles the funds to acquire it. Superior Township will become the fee title holder of the property, opening it as a preserve/park named BirdSong.
MLC Cherry Hill Property, Superior Township
The property is approximately 161.84 acres with direct road access from Cherry Hill Road. Immediately across the road is Cherry Hill Nature Preserve, and adjacent to the south is a large complex of Township-owned land intended for park and preserve use. This acquisition, along with the adjoining described land, would create an uninterrupted 623.5 acres of publicly accessible protected land in the area.
The property is locally known for its birds. There has been a bald eagle nest on site in recent years. Collectively with its adjacent protected land, over 160 bird species have been sited, including migratory and near-threatened species. The property scored the highest of all of open space applications received by the Greenbelt Program in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission, rating highly in nearly every category.
Superior Township applied for and was awarded several grants to cover the purchase price of this property: the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Grant; Ducks Unlimited (DU) Wetland Conservation Program (WCP) grant, a pass-through of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding; and funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Additional grant funding was awarded for restoration of some of the agricultural fields to prairie and wetlands.
Under the requirements of MNRTF, Superior Township commissioned two appraisals, the lower of which, dated March 24, 2025, was accepted by the DNR as the fair market value. The fair market value was determined by that appraisal to be $1,618,000.00 for the fee title to the property. The tables below detail the financial contributions from partners. The resolution approves an appropriation of funds for 11.93% of the fair market value, not to exceed $193,000.00, from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds. The City would also cover survey and environmental site assessment costs for this project due to Township limitations, estimated at $5,000. Superior Township will own the property and cover all other costs.
Proposed Project Budget:
City of Ann Arbor $193,000.00 11.93%
MI DNR MNRTF $1,000,000.00 61.80%
DU WCP $300,000.00 18.54%
NFWF $125,000.00 7.73%
Fair Market Value $1,618,000.00
Estimated Survey and Phase I Environmental Site Assessment: $5,000
Total City Funds Appropriation: $198,000
Approval of the participation agreement and appropriation of funds for the purchase of fee title and contribution toward due diligence was recommended by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission at their May 1, 2025 meeting. Staff recommends approval.
Staff
Prepared by: Rosie Pahl Donaldson, Land Acquisition Supervisor
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City wishes to contribute to the purchase of the property depicted on the attached map, tax parcel J -10-20-100-002 (“MLC Cherry Hill Property”);
Whereas, Superior Township has offered to hold title to the property;
Whereas, Chapter 42 of Ann Arbor City Code establishes the Greenbelt District and authorizes the City to purchase land and conservation easements on property within the district with Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds;
Whereas, Chapter 42 of Ann Arbor City Code authorizes City Council to enter into agreements for joint acquisition of land and easements in the Greenbelt District with other government agencies; and
Whereas, The fair market value of the property was determined by an appraisal as required by Section 1:321 of Ann Arbor City Code;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized and directed to execute a participation agreement with Superior Township for purchase of the MLC Cherry Hill Property, after approval by the City Attorney and City Administrator;
RESOLVED, That $198,000 is appropriated for this purchase from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Acquisition Millage Fund fund balance to the FY26 Parks and Recreation Open Space and Park Acquisition Millage Fund;
RESOLVED, That all amounts appropriated herein are without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the City’s contribution is contingent upon the approval by the City of the purchase documents and appropriate due diligence, including review of title work, an environmental assessment, and survey, as appropriate; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution, including the determination of satisfactory due diligence, exercise of all determinations and authority delegated to the City under any agreement, and the execution and management of ancillary documents, instruments, and agreements after approval by the City Attorney.