CEA 04-26-07 Meeting Agenda
TO: Conservation Easement Authority
FROM: Susan K. Eddy, Senior Planner
RE: April Meeting
DATE: April 19, 2007
The Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority will be meeting on Thursday,
April 26, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisor’s Meeting Room in the County
Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. Please note the
new start time. The Conservation Easement Authority will discuss the following agenda
items:
AGENDA
1. January 25, 2007 Minutes
2. February 22, 2007 Minutes
3. Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Funding
4. Other
Please contact the Planning Department (665-5651) if you are unable to attend this
meeting.
SKE/
Attachments
MEMORANDUM
ITEM #3
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Funding
Staff has recently been notified by the Virginia Office of Farmland Preservation that
$4.25 million has been approved by the General Assembly for the funding of Purchase of
Development Rights (PDR).
The Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority is authorized to purchase
development rights (conservation easements). To date, no money has been allocated to
this program by the County and no conservation easements have been purchased.
It is the intent of the Virginia Office of Farmland Preservation (see Attachment #1) to
equally divide the $4.25 million amongst the counties with established PDR programs,
provided they can match the funding. Currently 16 counties in Virginia (see Attachment
#2), including Frederick County, have PDR programs. Should all 16 counties apply for
funding, each would receive up to $265,625. If all 16 counties do not apply, the money
will be reallocated to those that do apply, providing of course they can match the funding.
This is a unique allocation of funding. Other PDR programs, such as funding from the
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), the Virginia Land Conservation
Foundation (VLCF) and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) are allocated on a
competitive basis.
Counties have until July 1, 2007 to certify that matching funds are available. They have
until August 31, 2007 to apply for certification that their PDR program
matches/addresses the state model PDR program. (Frederick County’s program closely
parallels the state model.) Counties do not need to immediately identify properties from
which development rights will be purchased. Local programs will have two fiscal years
to draw down the allocated funds. Any funds not used by a jurisdiction will be
reallocated to other participating jurisdictions.
This item was presented to the Frederick County Finance Committee by staff on April 18,
2007. The Finance Committee recommended authorizing staff to proceed with
certification of the County’s PDR program and tabled the issue of certifying funds
awaiting further information and discussion.
A discussion of this program will take place at the Easement Authority’s April meeting.