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Cardinal Land Conservancy seeks Clermont County support for two Clean Ohio green‑space grant applications
Summary
Cardinal Land Conservancy asked commissioners for a resolution of support for two Clean Ohio Green Space grant applications — one a 26‑acre restored meadow in a historic orchard parcel and another a wet flatwoods parcel in Jackson Township — and requested county backing independent of township timing due to an application deadline.
Cardinal Land Conservancy on Aug. 27 asked the Clermont County Board of Commissioners to provide a resolution of support for two land-acquisition projects the nonprofit plans to submit to the Clean Ohio Green Space program on Sept. 4.
The projects are separate parcels in different townships: a 26-acre portion of a historic orchard parcel restored to native meadow and wetland habitat, and a Jackson Township property described by the conservancy as a “globally rare” wet flatwoods ecological community. Cardinal asked the county to consider support even though one township’s meeting schedule could make its formal township resolution come after the application deadline.
Jack Stagner, director of conservation for Cardinal Land Conservancy, summarized the group’s recent county work—citing Rinsky Woods Nature Preserve (59 acres, acquired 2019) and Loveland Nature Preserve (89 acres)—and then described the two pending grant applications. Stagner said both parcels would be managed primarily for habitat and restricted, permission-based public access such as guided interpretive hikes, school groups, scout projects and limited special events; neither parcel is planned for unrestricted general public access with parking lots and open trails.
About the orchard parcel, Stagner said it is a 26‑acre portion of the historic Rauster’s Apple House orchard area that the owner restored to a native meadow and prairie mix after the orchard closed roughly a decade ago. “We do not plan to open either of these properties to unrestricted public access,” Stagner said.
Cardinal introduced sellers Andy Fix and Martha Enriquez for the Jackson Township parcel. Fix said the property has been in his family since 1959 and that the family wants to preserve a portion of the farm as a conservation legacy. Enriquez, who identified herself as a retired Clermont County employee, said parts of the Jackson parcel are difficult to farm because they are swampy: “The areas that are being considered to turn over are actually have proven very difficult to farm because of the land being swampy,” she said, and described the family’s interest in preserving the wetland and forested areas for ecological and educational purposes.
Commissioners asked Cardinal to provide a full packet—application materials, maps, price and funding breakdowns and other details—so the board can review before taking a formal resolution. Stagner noted the scheduling issue: one township’s earliest available meeting falls after the Clean Ohio application deadline; he asked the board to consider county-level support independent of township action while acknowledging the township retains sole authority to provide or withhold its resolution.
Questions from the board included whether neighboring property owners had been notified (Cardinal said, out of respect for private landowners and because the grant application is competitive, it typically does not canvass neighbors prior to filing) and requests for standard financial details the board expects with land acquisitions.
No formal county vote was taken on Aug. 27. The commissioners asked Cardinal to submit the packet to county staff; county staff said the packet will be distributed to the commissioners for review and a future formal action or resolution if the board decides to provide support.
