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Routt County declines to add 2.5-acre after-acquired parcel to Gregory Ranch conservation easement
Summary
County commissioners accepted the PDR board and Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust recommendation not to amend a 2022 conservation easement on the T Double J (Gregory) Ranch to include an approximately 2.5-acre after-acquired parcel, and authorized a notification to the land trust.
Linnea, a county staff member, told the Routt County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 21 that the T Double J Ranch (also called the Gregory Ranch) conservation easement, which closed in November 2022 and covers about 389 acres, included language about a 2.5-acre “after-acquired” parcel that had not been part of the easement because title to that parcel was in dispute.
"We’re here today in regards to the T Double J Ranch, also known as the Gregory Ranch, a conservation easement that the PDR contributed funds towards, that closed in November of 22," Linnea said, summarizing the history and the PDR board review.
The county and Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) reviewed whether the after-acquired parcel should be added. After title work and a site review, CCALT recommended not to include it. Linnea reported CCALT’s reasons: remaining boundary and fencing uncertainties and that adding 2.5 acres would provide only a minor incremental conservation benefit relative to the total acreage while incurring additional costs.
The county’s volunteer Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) board reviewed CCALT’s recommendation and supported it. Claire Sollers, a member of the PDR board who joined the meeting by phone, told commissioners the board agreed the risk of including the parcel was "very, very, very small" and noted the easement included language that would extinguish development rights on the conserved portion if a building site were placed on the after-acquired parcel.
Commissioner motioned to decline amending the conservation easement to include the after-acquired parcel, described in the conservation easement as approximately 2.5 acres, and to authorize the chair to sign correspondence notifying Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust of the decision. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: the easement was funded in part by PDR funds and was recorded with a specified legal description; changing it would affect the county’s conserved acreage, PDR funding outcomes and the land trust’s long-term conservation obligations.
Background and details: Linnea said the after-acquired parcel was specifically called out in the easement as not covered pending final title resolution. After the county and CCALT reviewed the title clarification and costs, CCALT concluded the parcel should not be added; the PDR board agreed. Commissioners emphasized that the conservation easement language gives CCALT discretion: the county cannot unilaterally add the parcel if the land trust declines.
Next steps: the county will send the authorized correspondence to CCALT notifying it of the county decision. Commissioners and staff indicated no additional county action was required at this meeting.
