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Gallatin County approves $1.005 million toward 856‑acre MJ Homeplace conservation easement
Summary
The Gallatin County Commission approved $1,005,000 from open‑space funds on Oct. 14 to help purchase an 856‑acre conservation easement for the MJ Homeplace near 3 Forks; the project leverages NRCS funding and a landowner donation to protect agricultural land and wildlife habitat.
The Gallatin County Commission voted Oct. 14 to allocate $1,005,000 from the county open lands program toward a conservation easement on the 856‑acre MJ Homeplace southwest of 3 Forks. Montana Land Reliance and the landowners brought the request for level‑2 open‑lands funding.
Montana Land Reliance representative Chad Klinkenborg told commissioners the easement would place the full 856 acres under permanent protection, confine any existing or future structures to predefined building envelopes, prohibit building in flood and riparian areas and limit future commercial uses to agriculture. He said, “The final appraised fair market value of the conservation easement came in at $4,020,000.”
Under the funding plan presented to the commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Service is committed to contributing $2,010,000 (50% of the easement value), the landowners will donate just over $1,000,000 in value, and the county’s $1,005,000 request represents roughly 25% of the appraised easement value. Sean O’Callaghan, speaking in his open‑lands coordinator role, explained the purchase and sale and assignment agreements before the commission.
Commissioners framed the vote as a long‑term investment in working lands, scenic open space and wildlife habitat that aligns with local planning objectives. "This is a really big gift to the landscape, wildlife and future generations of Gallatin County," a commissioner said during discussion.
With no substantive public opposition reported at the hearing, the commission moved to approve final level‑2 funding and authorized the county to complete the purchase and sale and assignment agreements so the easement can close. Staff and the land trust will complete the remaining steps required to finalize the conservation easement.
