CEA 08-28-14 Meeting Agenda CEA
Frederick County
Conservation Easement Authority
C/O Frederick County Planning Department, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-665-5651)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Conservation Easement Authority
FROM: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary
SUBJECT: August Meeting
DATE: August 21, 2014
______________________________________________________________________________
The Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority will be meeting on Thursday, August
28, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room (‘Purple Room’) in the County
Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW
MEETING TIME and LOCATION.
The Conservation Easement Authority will discuss the following agenda items:
AGENDA
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Adoption of Meeting Minutes: February 27, 2014
3. Update on Recorded Easement Activities
4. Update from Potomac Conservancy on Easement Funding Efforts and Sources
5. Update on Effort to Create Informational Conservation Easement Brochures and Videos
a. Review, discuss, comment on the draft teaser video
b. Discuss and prioritize series of future video topics
6. Open Discussion
7. Other
Please contact the Planning Department (540‐665‐5651) if you are unable to attend this
meeting.
ERL/pd
Enclosures: draft February 27, 2014 meeting minutes
CEA Creative Brief for video (previously viewed in February)
CEA Conservation Easement Video overview (previously viewed in February)
Draft
Conservation Easement Authority Page 198
February 27, 2014
MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Executive Session Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107
North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on February 27, 2014.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Todd Lodge, Vice Chairman; Ron Clevenger, C. Robert
Solenberger, Bryan Green, Charles Triplett, Planning Commission Liaison; and Gene Fisher,
Board of Supervisor Liaison
ABSENT: Elaine Cain, Treasurer; John Marker
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary; John Bishop, Deputy Director of
Transportation; Lindsey Felton, GIS Analyst; and Pam Deeter, Secretary II
OTHER: Kelly Watkinson, Shenandoah CEA, and Patrick Felling, Shenandoah County
PUBLIC MEETING
Welcome and Introduction
Adoption of Meeting Minutes
On a motion made by Mr. Solenberger and seconded by Mr. Clevenger the January 23,
2014, meeting minutes were approved as presented.
Update on Recorded Easement Activities
Frederick County has had no new inquires for easements.
Update on Effort to Create Informational Conservation Easement Brochures and Videos
Two documents have been created by staff members of the Potomac Conservancy and
staff members of the Planning Department. These documents outline how we might want to
run the video and a brief overview. Potomac Conservancy has experience with working with
easements and the County could benefit from their knowledge.
Draft
Conservation Easement Authority Page 199
February 27, 2014
In the outline, the categories of videos are listed and the Board today will make the
decision if this is the right direction to produce the videos. If this meets the Board approval, we
would start working at Staff level and have a video produced in a few months. Once the first
video is produced we will show the video to the Board and see if we want to proceed with next
video.
Chairman Kearns passed out a booklet that was published by the Valley Conservation
Council (VCC). The booklet is called Protecting Shenandoah Valley Lands. Chairman Kearns is
thinking that the VCC might be willing to partner with us for the videos because they also work
with easements.
Mr. Lawrence read the outline out loud. After each topic, Mr. Lawrence gave the
opportunity for comments or discussion.
In the outline, under objectives, it was mentioned to add tourism and education.
Kelly Watkinson suggested, in order, to promote the different partners maybe we
should be promoting what County easements can do for you. If you live in a certain County
contact your local County CEA for more information.
Mr. Lawrence thinks the first video (teaser) will promote and advertise easements. Mr.
Lawrence believes that it can be put on local TV channels, County Webpage, Facebook, and
Utube.
Mr. Solenberger asked what the cost would be for the video. Mr. Lawrence said that
the staff is doing this at no cost.
In the outline, under “What do we want them to think/feel?” Ms. Murphy expressed,
we should add to focus on economy in this area.
At this point, we have seven videos to produce with different topics. After the first
video, the group will view it and see if we want to proceed with the next topic. The Board
agreed to this approach.
The CEA members came up with a list of potential individuals to interview for videos.
Other
Next meeting will be on March 27, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
Draft
Conservation Easement Authority Page 200
February 27, 2014
Respectfully submitted
_____________________
Diane Kearns, Chairman
_______________________
Eric Lawrence, CEA Secretary
Conservation Easement Informative Videos
Objectives:
• Heighten awareness of the issue with target audiences
• Acquire conservation easements
• Position Potomac Conservancy and CEA as leaders on the issue
• Have video(s) broadcasted on PC, CEA, and stakeholder websites
Primary targets (audience):
• General potential landowners
• Farmers
• Hunters
• Partner organizations that do not know much about the topic
What do they think/feel now?
• Limited to no awareness of the topic currently
• Misconceptions regarding property rights
What do we want them to think/feel?
• Land conservation is critical to the health of the environment and our livelihood (clean
water and air, wildlife habitat, etc)
• Conservation Easements provide personal and financial benefits to the landowner and the
public
• Conservation Easements are a voluntary process with the landowners intentions in mind
What is the single most compelling thought?
• Conservation easements are a great way to protect family lands, agriculture, forest, water,
and open space that is currently disappearing or degrading at an alarming rate due to
development.
Why should targets believe this?
• Current statistics on population growth, development, urban sprawl
• Current statistics on water quality and source(s) of pollution
• Current conservation easement statistics, including acreage and benefits
Tone?
• Compelling (1st video)
• Wake Up! (2nd video)
• Informative (remaining videos)
CEA Conservation Easement Video
1. Teaser (1 minute):
Narrated by: Collection of sound bites
- Landscape shots (agriculture, orchards, farmer market, forest)
- Waterway -
- Someone drinking water or enjoying the outdoors (fishing, boating, swimming)
- Cuts from a landowner testimonial
- Video release time frame
- Contact Info
2. Landowner Testimonials (5 minute max):
Narrated by: Landowners
- Relationship to their land (inherited, purchased: for solitude, to farm, hunt, preserve, etc.)
- Years of ownership
-Favorite thing about the land
-Why did they put it under conservation easement (to protect: family history, farmland/food, forests, water
quality, nature; to stop urban sprawl or encroachment from outside the city; etc.)
- What has changed since putting it under conservation easement (the likely/hopeful answer is NOTHING, other
than annual monitoring)
- What do they not like about the enrollment process or overall program
3. Benefits of Conservation Easements (Conservation Values) (2-3 minutes):
-Narrated by: Potomac Conservancy or other professional
-Water quality (rural vs developed)
-Scenic Value
- Keep rural/agricultural character of the county/region
-Wildlife habitat
-Types of easements; Conservation values
4. Conservation Easements – Inquiry (2-3 minutes):
-Narrated by: Prospective landowner, PC or CEA
-Common questions regarding easements (we will answers these throughout the video process)
-Landowner meeting, Property Visit
-Eligible lands
-Available funding
-“Value” of easement/land (appraised $$ value and Conservation Values)
5. Conservation Easements – Process (2-3 minutes):
- Narrated by: realtor, accountant, lawyer
-Legal aspect: Title search, appraisal, survey, subordination
-Baseline documentation (photos, maps, landowner statements, etc.)
-Easement writing
-Closing
-Timeline for process
6. Conservation Easements – After the Property is officially protected (2-3 minutes):
Narrated by: Potomac Conservancy
-Stewardship – ensures the upholding of terms of the easement in perpetuity for current and all landowners
- Annual Monitoring: walk property, compare deed to current conditions, observe health of natural resources,
complete monitoring report, send follow-up letter
-Organization is a resource for easement and other environmental inquires
-Purchasing an easement: go over easement with organization, annual monitoring visits
7. Conservation Easements – Violations
Narrated by: Potomac Conservancy and/or Lawyer
- Landowner responsibilities
-Easement “Prohibitions”
-Violation process
-Amendments (changes) may not be made except to enhance conservation easement values or fix mistakes in
the easement