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Committee outlines step-by-step conservation easement process and due diligence
Summary
The committee reviewed a proposed flow for conservation projects — from initiation to deed registration and annual monitoring — and identified 'show-stopping' constraints like Tamworth's public-access requirement that could prevent easement completion in some cases.
Ned Beecher described a proposed project workflow the committee will use when a landowner expresses interest in conserving property. The steps described include initiation (landowner contact and information sharing), a co-occurrence assessment (4–10 pages) integrating mapped layers and weighting, negotiation on terms (gift, bargain sale, or full-market sale), a due diligence phase (title, surveys, testing, Baseline Documentation Report), drafting and review of a conservation easement by CLRC, Conservation Commission and Town Attorney, deed registration at the Carroll County Registry, and annual monitoring by a designated easement monitor.
The committee noted several 'show-stopping' rules to be checked early in the process: in particular Tamworth's policy that generally requires public access for conservation easements, with limited short-term exceptions for agricultural or forestry uses. Members emphasized the need to inform the Select Board and stakeholders early in a project to secure initial buy-in before proceeding with negotiations and due diligence.
