Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on the Dimo Property in Dexter Township, Approve a Participation Agreement with Dexter Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Appropriate $173,400.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a participation agreement with Dexter Township and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the purchase of a conservation easement on approximately 42.6 acres of property owned by the Dimo family in Dexter Township. The resolution also appropriates $173,400.00 (30% of purchase price) from Open Space and Parkland Preservation Millage proceeds for the purchase.
The landowners applied to Dexter Township's new millage-funded Purchase of Development Rights Program, and the Township is the lead agency in the negotiations with the landowners. The Township commissioned an appraisal, with a value date of December 31, 2024, that determined the fair market value of a conservation easement on the property to be $578,000.00. 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.
Bluebelt
Through a series of Council-approved amendments in 2024 to Chapter 42 - Open Space and Parkland Preservation of the Code of Ordinances, the Bluebelt 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 Greenbelt Advisory Commission adopted a Bluebelt operations framework in October 2025 describing eligibility criteria and additional standards for fundable properties in the Bluebelt. With this framework formalized, staff began accepting applications for the Bluebelt and requests for partnerships. On January 20, 2026, City Council...
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