Cache County advisory committee recommends Silva Farm conservation application to council with 10% COSAC contribution

The Cache County Open Space Advisory Committee on Dec. 6 voted to recommend that the Cache County Council accept the Silva Farm round‑1 conservation application and indicated a proposed COSAC contribution of 10% of the currently proposed budget. The committee’s recommendation passed on a 3–1 vote.

Committee members and staff described the Silva Farm property as about 55 acres total, with roughly 30 acres proposed for protection across four parcels. Staff said the property contains prime farmland soils and active agricultural operations and lies near the Bear River; the applicant has signaled willingness to allow a trail along the eastern boundary that could connect to the river.

The decision followed a staff presentation and a detailed discussion of scoring, funding and development exclusions. Brandon (staff) summarized committee scoring from five reviewers: scenic vistas averaged 4, gateways 2.6, agriculture 14.6, waterways 4.2, wildlife habitat 4.8, public access 7.2 and distinguished factors 5.2, producing a total reported score of 42.6. Members debated whether to base a round‑1 recommendation solely on the score or also consider available matching funds that make conservation more feasible.

Representatives from conservation partners and state agencies described preliminary fundraising plans. The land trust/partner representative said fair‑market value for the property was estimated near $2,025,000 and that applying a commonly used diminution (about 75%) produced an estimated easement value of about $1,518,007.50. Of that figure, the group read a preliminary NRCS request of roughly $759,000 (about 50% of the easement estimate), a landowner donation quoted around $227,812.50, and a COSAC ask that staff said is in the neighborhood of $379,000; meeting discussion reflected that several of the spoken numbers were draft and would be refined by formal appraisals and funding commitments.

The applicant discussed desired exclusions: roughly 20 acres along 800 East containing four existing homes would be excluded from the conservation legal description so those parcels could be subdivided under Trenton zoning; a reserved building envelope inside the easement on the northeast corner was described as a potential future single dwelling right that would remain encumbered by the easement terms. Staff clarified that any future subdivision or building would have to meet Trenton municipal zoning and that the county cannot guarantee Trenton will issue building permits.

After debate, a committee member moved to forward the application recommending COSAC support at 10% of the current proposed budget; the motion was seconded and carried by a 3–1 vote. The committee recorded the outcome as a recommendation to the Cache County Council; final approvals, funding obligations and closing remain contingent on NRCS decisions, other match funding, appraisal results and completion of due diligence.

The committee asked staff and partners to supply final budget and fundraising details for subsequent review in round 2 and noted that a recommendation at this stage does not commit COSAC to disburse funds until later approvals and appropriations occur.