Agricultural advisory committee recommends Casselberry farm for conservation easement; commissioners place item on consent agenda

The Carroll County Ag Advisory Committee and county staff presented an agricultural conservation easement application for a largely pasture and forest property owned by Gary Casselberry; commissioners agreed to place the application on the consent agenda at the next regular meeting.

Kelly Hagen, chairperson of the Carroll County Agricultural Advisory Committee, told commissioners the committee revamped the application process, held a public forum attended by 61 people and received two applications in the prior cycle. One application failed feasibility criteria; the Casselberry application is the remaining feasible application and proposes to enroll 178.52 acres of a 184.86‑acre tract into the county—s agricultural covenant program.

Hagen described the property at 160 Needmore Road as 70% pasture supporting a cattle operation, with about 16% forest, wetlands including two ponds totaling roughly 12 acres, and about 2,000 linear feet of creek. She said the property lies in a heavily agricultural area but is near recent residential development and adjacent to other agricultural easements in the county.

The nut graf: The board directed staff to place the Casselberry application on the consent agenda for the July meeting so the full board can act on the easement. The chair and commissioners thanked the advisory committee for its work vetting applications.

Ending: The item will appear on the county—s July consent agenda for formal vote; staff and the advisory committee will continue outreach to agricultural landowners about the program.