Buncombe County advisory board OKs VAD applications and hears updates on easements, appraisal needs

The Buncombe County Farmland Preservation Advisory Board on Oct. 21 approved five value‑added development (VAD) applications and heard reports on a slate of conservation easement projects, including several tentative closings, appraisal updates and legal delays.

Board staff said the projects will move to the county commissioners for final transaction‑cost approval and that state Agricultural Growth Zone grant paperwork is under way. The board was also told two pending easements — the Rogers Farm Trust and David Rogers projects — will need supplemental appraisal work because earlier appraisals expired after Hurricane Helene, and one federally funded closing is likely delayed by a federal agency shutdown.

Bridal Zeiff, preservation manager for Buncombe Soil and Water, opened the meeting by introducing a new board member and reviewing administrative items. The board voted by voice to approve the Oct. 21 meeting agenda and to approve the September minutes with an addition to the list of attendees. Later the board voted to approve five VAD applications for the month; staff said three of those applications are for separate parcels owned by the same landowners tied to a recently closed donation easement and two are for parcels associated with a landowner in Fairview.

Zeiff said staff recently took seven easement projects to the county…