Harford County OKs nearly $8.9 million to buy easements protecting about 1,098 acres

The Harford County Board of Estimates voted Dec. 16 to buy development rights and place permanent agricultural conservation easements on 19 farms across the county, authorizing up to $8,889,869.28 for the acquisitions. Jennifer Wilson, of the Department of Planning and Zoning, described the package of Resolutions 015-25 through 033-25 and the department’s recommendation to proceed.

"The Department of Planning and Zoning recommends award in the amount not to exceed $8,889,869.28 for the purchase of agricultural easements and development rights," Wilson said. The parcels include a mix of formula-value purchases, per-acre caps and bonus-per-acre payments as specified in each resolution.

The resolutions list individual maximum payments and acreage caps. Examples include up to $1,249,875.00 for the Stewart property covering up to 166.65 acres (Resolution 031-25); up to $1,237,500.00 for the Scarborough/Stauffer/Maccarelli/Scarborough parcel covering up to 165 acres (Resolution 026-25); and an authorization of up to $600,000.00 for John and Laura Perdue covering up to 96.976 acres (Resolution 025-25). The full package totals approximately 1,097.61 acres across 19 farms and includes development rights, family conveyances, and residential density unit caps where noted.

Wilson told the Board the easements would limit the land to agricultural use in perpetuity under the county program and described the mix of valuation methods used (formula value, per-acre caps and residential density value caps), as recorded in the resolutions.

Joseph Siemek moved approval and Spencer Ebann seconded. The motion was approved unanimously with two members absent.

The vote authorizes county staff to proceed with the purchases as listed in the resolutions; staff will complete the individual conveyance documents and payments consistent with each resolution’s wording. The Board adjourned at 1:39 p.m.