Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Heller Property in Webster Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Webster Township, and Appropriate $78,400.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Webster Township for the purchase of a conservation easement on the 71-acre Heller property in Webster Township. The resolution also approves an appropriation of funds not to exceed $78,400.00 (20% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to Webster Township's land preservation program and the Township has been the lead agency in the negotiations with the landowner. The Township commissioned an appraisal with a date of value October 27, 2023, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $392,000.00. 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. The Township was also awarded a USDA-NRCS ACEP-ALE grant to cover part of the acquisition costs.
Heller Property, Webster Township
The 71-acre Heller property is in the northwest corner of the Greenbelt boundary on Gregory Road. Its land use is nearly evenly split between corn/soy farming and healthy forest. These upland woods are rich in microtopographies and steep, interconnected vernal pools, resulting in high plant diversity, including a threatened species. It is expected to have high herpetological diversity as well. This forested patch extends into several neighboring properties, including two other properties protected with conservation easements. The property scored in the 70th percentile of agricultural applications and 71st percentile of open space applications received by the Greenbelt in the scoring systems developed and approved by the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. The ...
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