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Council hears that $15M in new funding enabled purchase closing on 68.66-acre Harrison property for ag preservation
Summary
Planning staff told the council the county secured $15 million in new funding and used it to close on a 68.66-acre Harrison property on Jan. 29, adjacent to an 86-acre parcel, creating roughly a 150‑acre block preserved under ag easements; a work group will study eastern-county preservation constraints.
Planning and Zoning staff briefed the council on the agricultural land preservation capital project G0164 and recent acquisitions funded by a $15 million request. The presenter reported the county settled on the 68.66‑acre Harrison property on Jan. 29; that parcel is immediately adjacent to an 86‑acre Day property, and together the acquisitions fill a roughly 150‑acre previously uncommitted area.
Staff said the program has, since inception 42 years ago, purchased easements on 174 properties totaling about 16,200 acres; when combined with the state MAF program and subdivision‑dedicated easements, the grand total is 295 easements encompassing just under 23,400 acres. Council members asked about extending the AgPres program into eastern Howard County; staff said Cathy Hudson will chair a work group to study the issue, that the county cap is $40,000 per acre (making east‑side purchases challenging due to higher land values), and the group will take up alternatives including grants and supports for beginning farmers with a target report later in the year.
No formal action was taken; council members asked staff to return with work-group membership and timeline information when available.
