Commission approves $1.083 million open-lands purchase for Kent Spur conservation easement

The Gallatin County Commission voted Sept. 30 to grant level 2, final approval for a bargain-sale conservation easement on the Kent Spur property, authorizing $1,083,000 from county open-lands funds toward an easement appraised at $3,614,000.

Sean O’Callaghan, the county’s open lands coordinator, told commissioners the project would encumber about 190 acres of a roughly 200-acre property southwest of Bozeman and that the land is primarily irrigated cropland with soils of statewide significance. Zane Ashford, a conservation project specialist with Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT), said the easement would add to a contiguous block of conserved agricultural land in the Goochill area and provides habitat and scenic views; he said the NRCS has already secured nearly 3:1 federal funds to match the county contribution and the Boss family is making a substantial donation.

Ashford said the easement allows one building envelope (with two location options, only one effective if used) and prioritizes agricultural viability; 10 acres will be excluded from the encumbrance for operational flexibility. The easement value was stated as $3,614,000; the county’s requested share is $1,083,000, equal to 30% of the appraised easement value.

Commissioner (S4) moved to approve level 2 and final purchase-and-sale agreements in the amount of $1,083,000 from open-lands funds for the Kent Spur LLC conservation easement application; Chair Boyer (S1) seconded. After discussion thanking the landowner and conservation partners for leveraging federal funds and private donations, the commission voted to approve the funding and finalize the county’s level 2 approval.

The vote authorizes county staff to enter purchase-and-sale and assignment agreements consistent with the open-lands program and to proceed toward closing with GVLT and the landowner.