Title
Resolution to Approve a Participation Agreement with Scio Township and Washtenaw County for Purchase of the Davenport Property and Appropriate $231,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Scio Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the purchase of 79.204 acres owned by the Davenport family in Scio Township. The resolution also appropriates $231,000.00 (30% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to the Scio 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 with a value date of February 27, 2025 that determined the fair market value of the property to be $770,000.00. As the lead agency, Scio Township will acquire fee title to the property and will cover due diligence and closing costs in addition to the acquisition costs listed below. Scio Township will also manage the property as a public nature preserve.
Bluebelt
On April 1, 2024, City Council approved a series of amendments to Chapter 42 - Open Space and Parkland Preservation of the Code of Ordinances. Through these changes, a new sourcewater protection district was established, allowing the Greenbelt program to work outside of the standard Greenbelt district and expand the City's opportunities for sourcewater protection projects within the Huron River Watershed upstream of the City and limited to Washtenaw County. The primary objective of this overlay district is to engage in permanent land conservation that directly protects the City's drinking water quality. While still defined in the Chapter 42 under the boundaries of the "Greenbelt District," this sourcewater protection district has since been named the "Bluebelt."
After a year of research and engagement with other City staff, the Huron River Watershed Council, Ann Arbor...
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