CEA_09-22-11_Meeting_AgendaTO: Conservation Easement Authority
FROM: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary `v
SUBJECT: September Meeting
DATE: September 12, 2011
AGENDA
Frederick County
Conservation Easement Authority
MEMORANDUM
The Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority will be meeting on Thursday,
September 22, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisor's Executive Session Meeting
Room in the County Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. The
Conservation Easement Authority will discuss the following agenda items:
1. June 23, 2011 Meeting Minutes
2. Fundraising Efforts
a. www.G1FT.org Give $1 for Frederick's Tomorrow
b. Establishing matching fund source
c. Hill High Farm Conservation Easement effort
3. Other Conservation Easement Interests
4. Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) update
5. CEA Membership
6. Next meeting date
7. Other
Please contact the Planning Department (540- 665 -5651) if you are unable to attend this
meeting.
CIO Frederick County Planning Department, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601 (540- 665 -5651)
Held in the Executive Session Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North
Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on June 23, 2011 at 8:00 a.m.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Ritchie Wilkins, Vice- Chairmari;2Elaine Cain, Treasurer; Robert
Solenberger; Ron Clevenger; John Marker; Gene Fisher, Board of Supervisors Liaison; and Charles
Triplett, Planning Commission Liaison.
ABSENT: Todd Lodge.
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretaiy;;and Bev Dellinger, Secretary.:
PUBLIC MEETING:
MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
1. April 28, 2011 Meeting Minutes h
On a motion by Mr. Solenberger and'seconded by Mr. Clevenger, the of April 28, 2011
were approved.
2. Fundraising Efforts a
a. www.GIFT.org .%ive.$1 for Frederick.s=Tomorro
Mr. Lawrence stated we'haae established the GIFT site on line, but we're not getting any
responses. Chairman Kearnssis looking for ide' as and support to get the GI FT program going.
e 1
b. Establishing matching ,fund source,
c. Hill HighFarm Conservation Easement effort
Mr Lawrence told members that last night (June 22 the Board of Supervisors gave their
,endorsement to the CEA to gikahead apply for a $130,000 grant through the Virginia Land
"-Conservation Fund. '<MryLawrence"is requesting that the CEA also endorse the application. The
Wrights, who own Hill High Farm`, are very excited and they want to move this forward. That's
why we're to findEsome grant funds to make it happen.
ro
Chairman Keains asked`aMr. Lawrence if we can use a state grant or is this supposed to be a local
match of funds: ^Mr Lawrence said he doesn't believe the grant requires a local match. There is
a match componenebut the FRPP can offset it. The intent is to leverage the FRPP against this
new grant and secure the $390,000 total funds that are necessary for the easement. We still have
to work with the property owner on some of the aspects of title, the closing component and
stewardship but as far as getting the grant, if we can secure the $130,000.00, we'll have the
necessary funds to close on the easement.
Chairman Kearns asked when Mr. Lawrence will know if the grant was approved. Mr. Lawrence
stated that in the past, it's been six to eight weeks after the deadline, which is July 12`".
Conservation Easement Authority Page 160
June 23, 2011
Mr. Marker made a motion to endorse the Wrights grant application. Mr. Solenberger seconded
the motion and the vote to endorse was unanimous.
3. Other Conservation Easement Interests
Chairman Kearns stated that a citizen is interested in doing something with her property, which
is located in the Double Tollgate area, along Wrights Run. This citizen would like to have a
piece of it cut off for her son to build a house. Chairman Kearns, Mr?,Lawrence and Ms. Emily
Warner of Potomac Conservancy talked with the citizen several weeks-ago and she stated she
doesn't want to see anything built on her land. They're going1to set up another meeting to
include all of the citizen's family. Chairman Kearns feels this land could be potential park land
for the County.
Chairman Kearns told members that Frederick County`Parks and Recreation is having a public
comment meeting on their vision for future parks and recreation. Chairman Kearns feels it
would be a good idea to put this kind of concept Parks and Recreation's charge, If someone
is concerned about future park land in the County, this could ,be a way to help: -by holding an
easement on the land.
Mr. Lawrence wants to make sure that we help the citizen to a point that someone can co-
hold the property and not have a conflict „With the County. Because of where the land is located
in the County, our long range plan callsFfot commercial /industnali,in that area. We have to get
over that hurdle, understanding what the, citizen wanfs'and under what we think we can
do as a County, and then we can help her find an organization that's willing to hold an easement.
Mr. Lawrence thinks that if this citizen feels the land could be used for recreation, then the
County probably ,wants'to! more active, in holding an easement, but if it's simply a
conservation easement to 'stop developmen;.on her property, she has a lot of different
organizations she cantwork with so long as the County says it's consistent with the Comp Plan.
4. CEA Membership
Chairman Kearns said that she;and Mr. Wilkins came up for reappointment this year Chairman
Kearns accepted her reappointment, but Mr. Wilkins has decided not to accept his We need to
think, of someone who would be a good addition to the Committee. Mr. Solenberger asked when
they
need someone to fill :Mr. Wilkins's seat and Mr. Lawrence stated August is when the term
expires
Mr. Lawrence stated that Mr. Fisher also was reappointed to the CEA as Board Liaison.
5. Next Meeting Date'
The next meeting is July 28, 2011. Chairman Kearns will not be available that date so it will be
up to members if there's a meeting in July.
6. Other
Conservation Easement Authority Page 161
June 23, 2011
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Kearns, Chairman
5 n1
Eric R. Lawrence, CEASecretary
Conservation Easement Authority Page 162
June 23, 2011