AGENDA DATE: 6/7/2017
TITLE:
Title
Acquisition of Conservation Easements (ACE) Ranking Order for FY17 Applicant Pool
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Request approval of final ranking order and appraisal of top three properties from FY17 ACE applicant pool
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Gast-Bray, and Goodall
PRESENTER (S): NA
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Douglas C. Walker
BACKGROUND: Pursuant to section A.1-110(G) of the ACE Ordinance, the Board of Supervisors reviews the list of parcels ranked by the ACE Committee and identifies parcels on which it desires to acquire conservation easements. Each conservation easement identified by the Board for purchase is appraised by an independent appraiser chosen by the County.
On October 31, 2016, four new applicants enrolled in the FY17 applicant class. Staff recently evaluated each of the properties from this applicant pool according to the ACE Ordinance ranking evaluation criteria. These objective criteria include: open space resources; threat of conversion to developed use; natural, scenic and cultural resources; and County fund leveraging from outside sources. Based on the results of the evaluation, staff has determined the eligibility of the properties and has ranked them in order (see Attachments A and B). Since the initial evaluation, one of the applicants (Bloch) has withdrawn his application, leaving three eligible applicants. These results were presented to the ACE Committee, which unanimously approved the proposed ranking at its May 8, 2017 meeting.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Natural Resources Stewardship: Thoughtfully protect and manage Albemarle County’s ecosystems and natural resources in both the rural and development areas to safeguard the quality of life of current and future generations; Rural Area Character: Preserve the character of rural life with thriving farms and forests, traditional crossroad communities, and protected scenic areas, historic sites, and biodiversity.
DISCUSSION: All three properties under consideration scored enough points to be eligible for ACE funding. With $704,271 of County funding available for this class (carry-over and reimbursements from VDACS Farmland Preservation), $48,293 left over from a 2017 VDACS Farmland Preservation grant, and $250,000 from the FY16 appropriation (see Attachment C), the County has enough funds to acquire easements on at least two of the three properties. The large carry-over resulted when three applicants from last year’s class withdrew after receiving the County’s invitations to sell the County an easement.
Based on the final ranking order and eligibility status of these properties, the ACE Committee recommends that the Board authorize appraisals of all three properties: Robertson, Kerley, and Earnhardt. Although the total ACE budget for FY17 may be insufficient to purchase easements on all three properties, staff and the ACE Committee believe it is prudent to have the authorization to appraise all three properties in the event that either additional funding becomes available or a higher ranking applicant withdraws from the Program.
The acquisition of easements on these three properties would eliminate 44 development rights and would protect:
1) 619 acres of farm and forest land
2) 10,300 feet of common boundary with other protected lands
3) approximately 6,000 of state road frontage
4) approximately 2,000 feet of riparian buffers
5) 250 acres of “prime” farm and forest land
6) 1 property in the watershed of a drinking water supply reservoir
7) 2 properties in a Rural Historic District
8) 1 working family farm.
BUDGET IMPACT: After purchasing two (2) easements from last year’s ACE applicant pool (Brigish and Moon), the County has $1,002,564 to acquire new easements from the FY17 pool. This amount of funding reflects a combination of County funds (re-appropriated), VDACS Farmland Preservation grants, and funds from the FY16 appropriation. VDACS Farmland Preservation holds the County’s grant money until the County submits for re-imbursement for 50% of the acquisition, appraisal, and closing costs. Funding for the purchase of these conservation easements would come from the CIP-Community Development-Conservation budget (line-item 4-9010-81010-481020-580409-1240). See Attachment C for additional budget information.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
The ACE Committee and staff recommend that the Board:
1) Approve the final ranking order for the FY17 applicant pool as shown on Attachments A and B;
2) Authorize appraisals of the top three properties: Robertson, Kerley, and Earnhardt.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Ranking Order of ACE Applicants for FY17
B - ACE Scoring Summary for FY17
C - ACE Budget for FY17 Applicant Pool