City memorandum finds gaps in conservation easement records; Office of Law to coordinate next steps

City staff and the Office of Law on Jan. 9 discussed a memorandum by a Chesapeake Conservation Corps intern that flagged irregularities in the city’s conservation‑easement portfolio and recommended further legal review.

What was presented: Resilience staff said the intern’s evaluation identified easements that lacked supporting surveys, had meet‑and‑bounds discrepancies, or otherwise showed unclear documentation about ownership and management responsibilities. The memorandum was provided to the Office of Law late in the prior year for follow‑up.

Office of Law response: City attorney staff said the easement issues are part of a larger set of real‑property concerns and recommended a cross‑office meeting to set a consistent approach. “I envisioned this is just really a part of a larger discussion of how the city handles real estate matters,” said an Office of Law representative. The attorney indicated the office will convene principals to decide whether to address easements as a discrete project or within a broader central‑services real‑estate group.

Community examples and follow up: Aldermen noted local examples where easement records affected volunteer work and grant applications; staff agreed to ask the conservancy board and easement holders to notify the city when they apply for grant funding or plan major improvements that involve easement properties.

Ending: The Office of Law said it will organize a meeting to scope work needed to clear discrepancies and determine whether in‑house counsel or contracted attorneys should complete the records and surveys. Staff said they will report back with a recommended course of action.