Buncombe County staff approve nine EVAD renewals, report progress on multiple conservation easements
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Summary
The board approved nine renewal applications for the countyEVAD program and authorized transaction costs for pending easement purchases; staff reported one recent 165-acre closing and said survey drafts and appraisals will precede additional closings.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY — County conservation staff told the advisory board on Feb. 17 that nine existing EVAD (renewal) applications were ready for approval and that work is under way on multiple easement purchases across the county.
Staff said the renewals are routine 10-year agreements for properties already in the program and walked board members through eligibility checks, including Farm Service Agency records and HEL (highly erodible lands) determinations from NRCS. "We sent out those renewal letters beginning of the year," staff said; the board approved the renewals by motion.
In an update on active projects, staff reported survey work has begun on the batch of projects and the top four properties are starting environmental assessments. "We also just got all of those grant contracts from NCDA approved, and we're starting the county contract process with those grants," a staff member said, noting that matching funds and grant approvals are in place.
Staff described one recent closing: Sandy Holler, a 165-acre acquisition recorded Feb. 10, is now protected. Other projects — Kestrel, Battle and additional parcels — remain in due diligence. Kestrel requires a recombination survey and Battle has deed-review delays while landowners and attorneys exchange documents; staff said those steps could push expected closings several weeks later.
The group also discussed a title dispute affecting Okoboji Farm, which staff said cannot close while a neighbortenant lawsuit that raises possession and use issues remains unresolved. "We couldn't close because there was a lawsuit against the title of the property," staff said, adding the land trust must wait for clear title before proceeding.
Board members voted to authorize transaction costs and donation fees needed to finish several pending easement transactions. Staff said final easement purchases will require preliminary survey drafts and appraisals; once those are complete, staff will return to the board with formal purchase requests funded from reserved agricultural zone and conservation easement funds.
What happens next: staff will continue surveys and environmental reviews, complete appraisals once surveys are ready and report back to the board with final purchase requests and cost details.