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Board approves funding for five conservation easements in Broad River and Fair View focus areas
Summary
Buncombe County approved funding to complete five conservation easements — including two agricultural donation easements and three land‑trust projects — allocating $121,400 from special projects and $483,000 from open‑space bond funds to help protect farmland, forest and scenic views along Highway 9.
County land‑conservation staff presented five conservation easement projects recommended by advisory boards and Conserving Carolina, including two donation easement phases for the Dador Farm in Fairview and three Broad River watershed projects anchored by the Light Center/United Research holdings along Highway 9.
Tom Fonso, land protection director with Conserving Carolina, described projects that protect forested river gorge reaches, a nature‑preserve style easement and a 13‑acre hayfield that helps preserve the scenic viewshed along the Black Mountain Rag Scenic Byway. The board packet notes state and federal grant leverage for several of these projects.
Commissioner Moore moved to approve funding for the five conservation easements (transaction costs and purchase funding) with $121,400 from special projects and $483,000 from the open‑space bond; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said some request components (transaction costs on certain donation easements) come from the annual easement budget rather than the bond.
