Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Cares II Property in Webster Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Webster Township, and Appropriate $54,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Webster Township for the purchase of a conservation easement on a 19.04-acre property owned by John and Jean Cares in Webster Township. The resolution also approves an appropriation of funds not to exceed $54,000.00 (35.0% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
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 2022, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $154,000.00. 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.
Cares II Property, Webster Township
The property is approximately 19.04 acres and is located in Section 27 of Webster Township on the corner of Farrell Road and Zeeb Road. It is owned by John and Jean Cares. The property scored in the 63rd percentile of agricultural applications received by the Greenbelt Program in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The entirety of the property is actively farmed. The property is adjacent to the Greenbelt's 180.644-acre Cares conservation easement with the same family; the Wolf and Sheldon easement; and Webster Township's Smyth easement, all purchased with funds from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage. These easements share borders with six additional easements, forming a 976-acre protected block of land. The Greenbelt Advisory Commission considers this ...
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