Green Belt Advisory Commission recommends two land participations, declines one easement; fund balance rises to $7.3 million

The Green Belt Advisory Commission voted March 5 to recommend city participation in two land acquisitions and to decline a proposed conservation easement, after a staff report that the commission's fund balance rose to $7.3 million at year-end.

Rosie, a Green Belt staff member, told commissioners that Ann Arbor Township closed on a 24-acre Seymourly parcel on Feb. 19 and that a separate Davenport property — a 79-acre parcel with Mill Creek and a tributary — closed quickly after council approval. "This is our first blue belt project that is already done," Rosie said, noting the Davenport parcel will be managed as an extension of Sloan Preserve with extra riparian protections and reduced trails to limit erosion.

The staff report also announced a partnership with the Ann Arbor Farmers Market for a three-session Vendor Resource Wednesdays series offering vendor resources; participants will include the Green Belt, the county conservation district and the office of sustainability. Rosie reported an updated fund balance of $7.3 million at year-end, up from about $5.6 million in June, and said some recently closed projects were not yet reflected in the posted tables.

After moving into a closed session to discuss land acquisition, the commission approved three post-closed-session recommendations by voice vote. Commissioner Schuler moved to recommend city participation with Scio Township for the property in application ID 2026-01, to enter a participation agreement with Dexter Township and the Washna County Parks and Recreation Commission, and to appropriate funds not to exceed $173,400 from Open Space and Parkland Preservation proceeds; the motion carried. Council Person Malik moved to recommend city participation in application ID 2026-03, to approve a participation agreement with the Legacy Land Conservancy and the Washna County Parks and Recreation Commission, and to appropriate funds not to exceed $12,000 from Open Space and Parkland Preservation mill proceeds; that motion also carried. Commissioner Bloomer moved to decline city acquisition of a conservation easement for application ID 2026-02; that motion carried.

Council Person Malik and other members supported the motions during the voice votes; the chair declared each motion carried. The transcript records no public callers during either public-comment period.

The commission adjourned after a brief wrap-up and a scheduling note that the April meeting will fall in the second week of April.

What it means: The commission’s recommendations advance two candidate acquisitions toward city participation and allocate modest Green Belt funds for those purchases; one easement request was declined. The Davenport closing — described by staff as the commission’s first "blue belt" project and now part of the Sloan Preserve complex — reflects the program’s early activity. Next steps include city-council review or implementation actions tied to each participation agreement.