Harford County hears presentation on 19 agricultural easements that would add roughly 1,000 acres to preserved land

Harford County staff presented a slate of 19 proposed agricultural preservation easements at the council’s Nov. 4 public hearing, describing how each property ranked under the county’s scoring system and how payments to landowners are calculated.

The presentation, led by Jen Wilson, said the county has preserved roughly 66,000 acres to date and cited a 2016 master‑plan target of 75,000 acres by 2040. Wilson described the county’s automated ranking tool—created by retired planning staffer Bruce Johnson and referred to in the hearing as “Alvin”—and said the county evaluates properties by size, development rights, soil quality and on‑site natural resources. Payments are based on the lowest of three calculations, with per‑acre and per‑lot caps and a 10% cushion built into the resolutions in case final surveys change acreage.

Wilson described payment options offered to landowners: a lump‑sum settlement, which is before the council as a set of resolutions, and installment payment agreements (IPAs) that would appear as bills when used. She said most landowners in this round choose lump sums and that the county typically processes about 20–25 applications a year. She identified several properties by name and location, including a 57‑acre Bauer property near Forest Hill, a 113‑acre Bergheimer Farm outside Aberdeen, and a Smucker Farm that straddles the Mason–Dixon line (easement on the Maryland half only).

Speakers from the Hartford Land Trust and the county’s Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board urged approval. Kristen Kirkwood, executive director of Hartford Land Trust, told the council the package would prevent an estimated 82 single‑family homes on large lots and stressed the economic and community value of preserved farmland. “Land preservation and open space is not a luxury,” she said, adding that county agriculture generates substantial annual economic activity.

Bill Amos, representing the advisory board, described the mix and geographic spread of the properties and thanked the council for updating the program’s incentive areas and payment caps.

Council members asked staff for details about funding and capacity. County staff said the transfer‑tax–funded preservation fund had about $40 million at the end of fiscal 2025, of which roughly $15 million is available for cash deals after accounting for reserved “strips” tied to installment agreements. Staff confirmed the county has capacity to process roughly 20–25 applications per application cycle and that payment tiers are geared to market pressures: properties inside the development envelope receive approximately $3,000 per acre while those within the 1‑mile buffer receive about $4,000 per acre.

The council closed the public hearing without taking a final vote; staff said the resolutions with dollar amounts will return for future consideration. The council also scheduled preservation seminars for landowners in January to encourage future participation.