AGENDA DATE: 3/1/2023
TITLE:
Title
Acquisition of Conservation Easements Program - Action on 2019 Class
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Request for Board direction on the ACE Program Henley proposal from the Acquisition of Conservation Easements Program 2019 round of applications
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, DeLoria, Filardo, McDermott, Maliszewski, Clark
PRESENTER (S): Scott Clark
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County's Acquisition of Conservation Easements (ACE) program was created in 2001 to protect farmland and natural resources on rural properties that were vulnerable to development. The program purchases conservation easements, with prices pro-rated by income, to benefit rural landowners with the most financial need.
Of the applicants within the 2019 round of ACE applications, the ACE committee recommended purchase of the proposed easement on the Campbell property and recommended deferral of consideration of the Henley property (Parcel 40-12A; 19.1 acres -see Attachment A for a map). The ACE scoring sheet for the Henley property is included as Attachment B.
On June 15, 2022, the Board of Supervisors noted that the Henley property is located in a Water Supply Protection Area and directed staff to forward both the Campbell and Henley proposals to the ACE Appraisal Review Committee (ARC) for their review. Before the ARC met, the Campbell application was withdrawn by the owners, leaving only the Henley property under consideration. At its meeting on October 6, 2022, the ARC recommended that the Board invite an offer to sell the Henley easement, but at a reduced price, due to concerns over the useable development potential of the property (meeting minutes provided in Attachment C).
Following standard operating procedures, staff then presented the Henley easement to the Albemarle Conservation Easement Authority (ACEA) for their review. County Code...
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