Formal application for Vivian Christiansen advances; site visit planned

Summary

The Vivian Christiansen conservation easement formal application (submitted Oct. 23) was discussed; staff reported a LeRay McAllister award of $525,000 and said COSAC is being asked for about $731,000 (15% of easement value). The committee agreed to schedule a site visit and to proceed with the two-step review and recommendation process.

Cache County staff updated the Cash Open Space Advisory Committee on the formal application for the Vivian Christiansen property, which was submitted Oct. 23. Staff reported a $525,000 award from the LeRay McAllister working farm and ranch grant fund but said NRCS funding is still pending; staff estimated the county’s requested contribution at about $731,000 (approximately 15% of the conservation easement value), subject to appraisal results.

Angie and other staff discussed next steps: schedule a site visit with the landowner and committee members, prepare a staff report and conduct a first-round vote and scoring at a future meeting; if recommended, the committee would forward its recommendation to the county council for final action. Staff asked members to hold a mid-November afternoon date for the site visit and to make drone imagery available for the evaluation.

The committee noted the project’s size and prime agricultural designation and said the county’s share would produce significant acreage protection per dollar. Appraisal and NRCS determinations remain outstanding; staff described the funding numbers as preliminary until those documents are complete.