CEA_12-15-05_Meeting_Minutes• MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in Planning Department Conference Room of the Frederick County Administration
Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on December 15, 2005.
PRESENT: Richie Wilkins, Chairman; Bud Good, Vice Chairman; Diane Kearns,
Treasurer; Barbara Van Osten; Todd Lodge; Robert Solenberger; Jim Lawrence; John
Light; and, Phil Glaize
ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Kris Tierney, Deputy County Administrator; Susan Eddy, Senior
Planner; Kevin Henry, Planning Technician
PUBLIC MEETING:
Members approved the minutes of the November 17, 2005 meeting.
Senior Planner Eddy advised Members that John Eckman with the Valley Conservation
Council was unable to attend the meeting due to the weather. He would arrange to come
• to another meeting.
Planner Eddy advised Members that the County's Finance Committee had not met in
December, so the supplemental appropriation to print the brochure was on hold.
Members agreed to the wording in the brochure with one change to better describe the
role of the committee as also a facilitator of easements. Members, who had not
previously done so, added their telephone numbers to the brochure. Planner Eddy
advised that the paper used for the brochure would be a simple stock. Members agreed to
print a large number of copies, likely 5,000, in order to spread them throughout the
community.
Members discussed the letter to accompany the brochure. Members had previously
agreed to personalize some letters. Staff was directed to circulate the list of property
owners over 50 acres to Members for them to indicate which letters should be
personalized. This list could be sent with the next month's agenda.
Planner Eddy informed Members that she had received a number of inquiries on
easements since the radio spot and the operation of the website. Chairman Wilkins
wanted to contact those property owners. Member Solenberger sought clarification on
adjacent property owners pursuing easements. Deputy County Administrator Tierney
noted that there might not be much conservation value in some smaller properties.
Member Lawrence noted that multiple property easements can be very difficult to craft.
•
Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority - 7 -
Minutes of December 15, 2005
• Ms. Heather Richards with the Potomac Conservancy added that easements are valuable
for some small properties such as a historic site or a spring head.
Planner Eddy updated Members on some of the legislation before the Virginia General
Assembly on easements and purchase of development rights (PER) programs. Ms.
Richards added that seven bills were in the general assembly related to tax credits and
stricter standards. A general discussion of standards for tax credits followed.
Questions were raised about agricultural and forestal districts, and Planner Eddy gave an
overview of the County's program.
Member Kearns suggested that the authority look into alternative sources of funding. She
highlighted a voluntary program in Colorado that collected money with restaurant bills.
Ms. Richards noted that the Williamsburg Land Trust had a similar program.
Members discussed the role and niche of other organizations such as the Potomac
Conservancy and the Battlefield Foundation. Staff was directed to invite the Battlefield
Foundation to an Easement Authority Meeting.
Members agreed to hold an informational session with other conservation organizations,
likely in late February /early March. This would be held in the evening so the public
could attend. Member Lawrence noted that this might qualify for RC &D funding. It was
agreed to add details of this session to the letter going to large landowners.
• ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
ichie Wilkins, Chairman
Susan K. Eddy, Secretary
•
Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority -8-
Minutes of December 15, 2005