Natural Resources Committee approves multiple conservation purchases and easement contributions

Beaufort County’s Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved several conservation transactions on motion Monday, authorizing county funding to support a conservation easement on Trotters Loop and to help acquire multiple parcels including the North Widgeon property.

The committee voted to authorize up to $310,000 in county funds toward a conservation easement procured by the Open Land Trust for property known as the Trotters Loop. The committee also approved county participation in fee-simple procurements for the North Wriggant Tracts (not to exceed $250,000 from the Green Space fund) and a larger North Widgeon acquisition, for which staff described a rural-and-critical-lands share request of roughly $2.2 million supplemented by $250,000 from the county Green Space fund and a matching $250,000 from a state conservation bank. Committee members raised no objections and approval votes were recorded as unanimous by voice/hand vote.

The Trotters Loop easement was presented to the committee as a voluntary, private-land conservation effort covering roughly 55 acres assembled from 18 parcels. Dr. McShane, speaking for the Green Space Committee, said the landowner is donating a substantial portion of the easement value and that Green Space’s requested contribution would leverage private generosity. “This family really worked to bring those 18 parcels together,” Dr. McShane said. The committee approved the requested contribution and agreed to forward the matter to full county council for final action.

Amanda Blake, representing the Rural and Critical Lands program, requested the county’s share for the North Widgeon purchase and described the funding plan on behalf of Rural and Critical Lands staff: the program would provide the majority share (Amanda Blake said $2,200,000), with $250,000 coming from the Green Space fund and $250,000 from the state conservation bank. During final clarification the committee was told the authorization number on the motion was $2,220,000. Blake also noted that if the North Widgeon purchase is approved, Rural and Critical Lands would retain approximately $172,826 in remaining program funds.

Committee members discussed the strategic value of the parcels, noting adjacency to an existing passive park and state-owned marshland and describing the parcels as under significant development pressure. The committee’s chair and presenters emphasized the county’s long-running conservation programs, including earlier projects such as Widgeon Point and the county’s role in matching conservation bank funds.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution: Contribution to Open Land Trust for conservation easement (Trotters Loop). County contribution authorized not to exceed $310,000. Outcome: approved (unanimous). Mover: motion placed on floor; second: Miss Brown (as recorded during the meeting). Notes: 18 parcels; 55 acres; donor accepted a 60% valuation level according to presenter. - Resolution: County procurement for fee-simple real property known as the North Wriggant Tracts. County contribution authorized not to exceed $250,000 (Green Space). Outcome: approved (unanimous). Mover/Second: motion and second recorded on the floor; recorded as unanimous by hand vote. - Ordinance/Resolution: Purchase of North Widgeon (tax map serials identified in item wording). Rural and Critical Lands staff requested a $2,200,000 share from that program, plus $250,000 from Green Space and $250,000 from the state conservation bank; the committee’s authorization on the floor was clarified as $2,220,000 during the meeting. Outcome: approved (unanimous). Notes: presenter stated remaining Rural and Critical Lands balance after the purchase would be approximately $172,826.

Several committee members asked for and were given fund-balance information before voting. Staff reported a Green Space fund balance of $105,818,858.48 as of the previous Wednesday; presenters estimated the uncommitted balance after outstanding commitments to be “somewhere north of $95 million.”

The committee also approved a separate smaller fee purchase (Barrel Landing) with a total cost cited as $438,000 (purchase price $435,000 plus closing costs).

The committee’s approvals were procedural authorizations directing county staff and the county administrator to execute documents and finalize funding; final closings and deed transfers are subject to the usual closing steps and documentation.

The county chair closed the agenda items after the approvals and the committee adjourned.