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Board approves Smith Farm mitigation bank agreement with Clearwater Mitigation; county receives stream and nutrient credits
Summary
After months of negotiation a subcommittee-backed agreement with Clearwater Mitigation was approved. Clearwater will fund and build a mitigation bank on about 165 acres of Smith Farm; the county keeps the underlying property and receives mitigation credits with no upfront county capital contribution.
Franklin County supervisors voted to approve a draft agreement with Clearwater Mitigation LLC to establish a mitigation bank on a portion of the county-owned Smith Farm property.
The board approved the agreement after summary remarks from county staff and two supervisors who served on a negotiating subcommittee. The draft agreement (dated 10/21/2025) would place an easement over roughly 165 acres of the farm for mitigation purposes while the county retains ownership of the underlying land. Clearwater Mitigation will invest all capital for permitting and construction and will manage the mitigation bank; the agreement reserves credits for county use.
Why it matters: The mitigation work is intended to improve stream channels and riparian buffers on the Smith Farm and reduce sediment and nutrient loads that flow toward Smith Mountain Lake, while allowing the county to retain other parts of the farm for proposed recreational uses.
Key terms and benefits cited by staff - Acreage and easement: staff described the mitigation area as approximately 165 acres of the Smith Farm property. - Credits to the county: the draft agreement provides stream and nutrient credits to the county for its own future use; staff described the county credit allocation and an additional pool of credits available to the development community in the watershed. - County capital: Clearwater will fund permitting, design and construction; the county will not be required to provide capital to develop the bank. - Permitting timeline: staff estimated permitting could take 18'24 months before construction. - Coexistence with recreation: staff said the agreement and the recreation master plan are intentionally compatible and that some low-impact trail uses could be permitted in easement areas.
Board discussion and advocates Supervisors Jim Jamieson and Chris Quinn, who served on the subcommittee, told the board they believed the deal protected county interests, required no county capital, and allowed the county to use or sell credits if they were not needed for county projects. Bobby Prout, a representative for Clearwater who traveled from Richmond, answered questions from supervisors and said Clearwater would work with county staff on long-term management.
Vote and motion: Supervisor Quinn moved to approve the agreement with Clearwater Mitigation LLC dated 10/21/2025 and to authorize the county administrator and county attorney to execute documents necessary to implement it; Supervisor Mitchell seconded. A roll-call recorded yes votes from Supervisors Quinn, Tatum, Smith, Jamieson, Mitchell and Carter. Chairman Ronnie Thompson was absent for the vote.
What happens next: The county and Clearwater will finalize the easement documents, Clearwater will pursue necessary federal, state and local permits and then construct stream restoration and planting. Staff said some credits have already been allocated for recent county projects (for example, nutrient credits used for work at Summit View and Glade Hill fire station).
Ending: Supervisors said they appreciated staff work and the negotiating subcommittee and voted to authorize the county administrator and county attorney to sign the agreement as presented.
