Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Fletcher Property in Scio Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Scio Township, and Appropriate $50,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Scio Township for the purchase of a conservation easement on a 15.75-acre Fletcher property in Scio Township. The resolution also approves an appropriation of funds not to exceed $50,000.00 (32% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to Scio Township's land preservation program and the Township has been the lead agency in the negotiations with the landowners. The Township commissioned an appraisal with a date of value May 31, 2023, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $155,000.00. As the lead agency, the Township will be the holder of the conservation easement and will cover due diligence and closing costs in addition to the acquisition costs below.
Fletcher Property, Scio Township
The property is approximately 15.75 acres and is on Zeeb Road between Liberty Road and Scio Church Road. It is owned by the Carol E. Fletcher Trust. A farmstead is seated near the road, along with pasture currently hosting goats. The remaining land grows hay. While the property is immediately surrounded by rural residential development, the view opens up just a few hundred feet south to 225 acres of other preserved farmland on either side of Zeeb Road. The property scored in the 5th percentile of agricultural applications received by the Greenbelt in the scoring system developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The protection of this property is a priority for the Greenbelt program due to its prime farmland soils and proximity to other protected lands. The Greenbelt Advisory Commission recommended approving the participation agreement at their O...
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