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Land preservation group urges action as county easement model pauses Highlands applications
Summary
A Land Preservation representative told supervisors several properties are being considered for land reserves and said Highlands grant applications are pending while the county revises a model conservation easement; staff confirmed the county program is suspended until conservancies accept the revised easement.
A representative from a Land Preservation group told the supervisors the organization now holds several properties whose owners are interested in placing land reserves on their parcels and that the group is pursuing Highlands grant funding to support conservation. "We do now have several properties ... owners interested in having land reserves," the representative said.
Board members and staff discussed that the county's program for accepting conservation easements is suspended while a model conservation easement is revised and must be accepted by local land conservancies before new applications are accepted. A township staff member noted that, according to Sherry, the program "is suspended until they have worked out issues regarding the model conservation easement." The suspension has created uncertainty for applicants; one staff speaker said a previously submitted Highlands application was rejected because title issues were not resolved prior to the grant deadline.
The township's engineer also reported that three properties had Highlands grant submissions and that the state was reviewing them, with staff expecting to hear federal approval determinations by the end of February. The Land Preservation representative said the group is looking for ideas for financing and public outreach and asked the board to remain available for questions and collaboration.
Board members said they would follow up with county contacts and staff and explore funding and timeline options; staff agreed to report back with clarifications on the county suspension, title issues affecting grant eligibility and any actions the township might take to assist applicants.
Next steps include staff follow-up with county and conservancy contacts and the Land Preservation group, and scheduled hearings in January where related items may be revisited.
