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Nags Head accepts $4 million Land & Water Fund grant to place conservation easement on Fresh Pond tract
Summary
The board authorized staff to accept a $4,000,000 Land & Water Fund award to purchase development rights and place a conservation easement on a major town‑owned tract around Fresh Pond; next steps include a second appraisal, survey and recording of easement documents with transaction costs eligible for reimbursement under the grant.
The Board of Commissioners on Nov. 6 authorized the town to accept a Land & Water Fund grant award of up to $4,000,000 to acquire development rights and place a conservation easement on a large town‑owned tract that includes watershed lands near Fresh Pond.
Town Manager Andy Garman and staff described the multi‑year effort: the town and The Nature Conservancy worked together on the application; staff previously obtained an appraisal and requested acquisition funds through the grant program. The grant award is capped at $4,000,000, the town reported, and staff said the grant will reimburse transaction costs (survey, appraisal, legal) as they are incurred.
Staff noted some portions of the property will be excluded from the easement to preserve operational needs — for example the police shooting range, the pond itself and utility corridors — and that two smaller town parcels (7.7 acres and 4.3 acres) were also proposed for inclusion. The Nature Conservancy will help manage and monitor the easement area and the state will hold the easements.
Amy Miller reviewed procedural next steps: a second appraisal is required because of the grant amount; a full survey must be completed (the town does not currently have a complete survey for the tract) and the survey may require two to three years to finish; conservation easements will be drafted and recorded; and transaction costs will be reimbursed through the grant. Staff requested authority for the town manager to execute the grant contract and proceed with the required appraisals and surveys. The board moved, seconded and approved the authorization to accept the grant and enter the grant contract.
Mayor and staff noted the step aligns with the town’s comprehensive plan goals to preserve natural areas and that placing the property into conservation was a long‑standing objective. The Nature Conservancy and town staff will coordinate public communications after contract execution.
