Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Larson Property in Webster Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Webster Township, and Appropriate $81,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Webster Township for the purchase of a conservation easement on a 29.98-acre property owned by the Dale and Marilyn Larson Trust in Webster Township. The resolution also approves an appropriation of funds not to exceed $81,000.00 (33.33% 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 $243,000.00. 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.
Larson Property, Webster Township
The property is approximately 29.98 acres and is located in Section 36 of Webster Township with legal access to Joy Road. It is owned by the Dale and Marilyn Larson Trust. The property scored in the 80th percentile of agricultural applications received by the Greenbelt Program in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The property contains about 10 acres of forested and unforested wetlands. The property is within a half mile of multiple conservation easements held by Legacy Land Conservancy (not shown on public map due to no public dollars involved in these purchases). The Greenbelt Advisory Commission considers this Larson parcel a priority for acquisition due to its wetland and Huron River tributary resources. The Commission recommended approving the partic...
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