CEA 03-26-15 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: March Meeting
DATE: March 19, 2015
______________________________________________________________________________
The Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority will be meeting on Thursday, March
26, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. in the Planning Department Conference 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: January 22, 2015
3. Update on Effort to Create Informational Conservation Easement Videos
a. Review, discuss, comment on the draft video footage
4. Open Discussion
5. Other
Please contact the Planning Department (540-665-5651) if you are unable to attend this
meeting.
ERL/pd
Enclosures: draft January 22, 2015 meeting minutes
Draft
Conservation Easement Authority Page 205
January 22, 2015
MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Planning Department Conference Room of the Frederick County Administration
Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on January 22, 2015.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Elaine Cain, Treasurer; Ron Clevenger, C. Robert
Solenberger, John Marker, Bryan Green, and Charles Triplett, Planning Commission Liaison
ABSENT: Todd Lodge, Vice Chairman; and Gene Fisher, Board of Supervisor Liaison
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary; John Bishop, Deputy Director of
Transportation; Kirstin Twardon, GIS Technician; and Pam Deeter, Secretary II
OTHER: Ellen Murphy, Commissioner of Revenue; Tracy Lind, Potomac Conservancy; and Raya
Zimmerman, Winchester Star
PUBLIC MEETING
Welcome and Introduction
Annual Organizational Activities
a. Election of Officers
A nomination by Mr. Solenberger was made to keep the same officers as the past year.
The officers being Diane Kearns, Chairman; Todd Lodge, Vice Chairman; and Elaine Cain,
Treasurer; and Eric Lawrence, Secretary. Mr. Marker seconded the motion and it was
unanimously approved.
b. Adoption of Bylaws
Chairman Kearns asked members if they have any changes to the Bylaws. As no one had
any changes, Ms. Cain made a motion to adopt the Bylaws as presented. Mr. Green
seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
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January 22, 2015
c. Selection of Meeting Dates and Times
Chairman Kearns asked members if the time of the meeting works for everyone.
Everyone was agreeable with the date and time of meetings-8:30 a.m. on the 4th
Thursday of the month.
Adoption of Meeting Minutes
On a motion made by Mr. Marker, and seconded by Mr. Solenberger the February 27,
2014, August 28, 2014, and October 23, 2014 meeting minutes were approved as
presented.
Update on Recorded Easement Activities
Mr. Lawrence said, there have been a few inquiries in the Middletown area since the
Civil War Trust is securing the easements on properties as part of the battlefield
preservation.
M. Lind said the Potomac Conservancy has had no definite leads. The Conservancy had
two inquiries. Ms. Lind is not sure where the property was located.
Mr. Lawrence stated we talked with people about TDR but no developers are looking to
buy the TDR.
Mr. Lawrence spoke of a project where the property owner will bank his TDR to
preserve the land because he doesn’t have anyone to sell to. The property owner will
remove his development rights to property and hold them.
Chairman Kearns asked if the property owner can do this. Mr. Lawrence replied under
the law the property owner can do this. The Commissioner of Revenue will be able to
tax the rights of the property.
Chairman Kearns brought in an article where Clarke County received money for
easements also in the article the according to George Ohrstrom of Potomac
Environmental Council that the General Assembly is meeting now and there are some
proposals that would affect the Conservation Easements. Chairman Kearns was stating
that Clarke County BOS was taking action against the proposals so she was wondering
how the Frederick County Board of Supervisor feels about these proposals.
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January 22, 2015
Mr. Lawrence researched to see if he could find out what was being proposed. Mr.
Lawrence found six open space conservation easement bills. Mr. Lawrence has copies
of if anyone is interested.
Update on Effort to Create Informational Conservation Easement Brochures and
Videos:
Mr. Bishop presented the third video with the Potomac Conservancy. Ms. Lind
represented the Potomac Conservancy in the video and she relayed the benefits of a
conservation easement.
The Committee overall liked the video. Chairman Kearns asked Mr. Bishop when the
final product would be finished. Mr. Bishop replied that there are a few minor revisions
to the videos. Chairman Kearns suggested a roll out of the three videos by March to
the Civic Clubs, and social media.
Video two was replayed since there was more attendance at today’s meeting.
Ms. Murphy inquired if there is a list of property with easements on them. Ms. Lind
replied yes the link is Virginia Farmland Grow.
Mr. Lawrence will get the Frederick County CEA webpage updated. Chairman Kearns will
update the social media page.
In April, Ms. Lind is doing a presentation at Blandy for the Potomac Conservancy and
would like to share the videos.
Mr. Bishop and Ms. Lind were asked what the topic for the fourth video is. Ms. Lind
replied professional interviews. Ms. Lind has touched base with some professional but
is waiting for return calls to set appointments.
Open Discussion
Chairman Kearns brought up the Ag District renewal letter. Chairman Kearns and Mr.
Solenberger received several letters and were inquiring as to why it couldn’t be mailed
in one envelope.
Mr. Lawrence explained because of time frame and in the future we hope to be able to
mail one letter listing all the properties on it.
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January 22, 2015
Other
Next meeting will be on February 26, 2015 at 8:30 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:10.
Respectfully submitted
___________________
Diane Kearns, Chairman
____________________
Eric Lawrence, CEA Secretary