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Skagit County approves conservation easement to protect 82 acres of Bow farmland
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a county-funded conservation easement for an 82-acre Bow property, removing two development rights and paying the landowner $185,000. The Farmland Legacy program says the easement protects prime agricultural soils in perpetuity.
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 on April 14 to approve a grant deed of conservation easement protecting an 82-acre property in Bow.
Sarah Stoner, agricultural lands coordinator for Skagit County Public Works, told the board the Path easement “seeks to protect 82 acres and removes 2 development rights for a total compensation to the landowner of a hundred and 80 5 thousand.” She said the property supports grazing for a cattle operation and is classified as prime farmland by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The easement will be held by Skagit County and is funded solely by the county’s conservation futures program, Stoner said. “This is funded solely by our county conservation futures,” she told commissioners, noting there was no state or federal funding attached to this easement.
Commissioners emphasized the program’s long-term reach. Commissioner Browning said the easement would help “keep [the land] in farmland” and thanked Stoner and the landowners for participating. Commissioner Wiesen noted the county now has “15,300 acres protected, as of April with the approval of this easement today.”
The motion to approve the Farmland Legacy program grant deed of conservation easement with John Path and Sons for parcels P34523 and P34524 passed 3-0. The recorded compensation to the landowner is $185,000.
The conservation easement document restricts nonagricultural development consistent with the county’s Farmland Legacy program. Stoner said standard easement restrictions apply, although occasional adjustments are made for farm operations; for example, cattle operations may be allowed up to 5% impervious surface for needed infrastructure versus the standard 2% for open farmland.
The board took no additional direction beyond approving the easement. The county will hold the deed and monitor the property under the terms of the Farmland Legacy program.
