Liza Walker from the Vermont Land Trust and the Mad River Valley Conservation Partnership appeared before the Waitsfield Planning Commission on October 6 to explain the proposed project and the support needed from the town.
TRANSFER OWNERSHIP
"We've been in conversations with Paul and Marie Hartshorn to preserve 40 acres of farmland and transfer ownership to their son David, who currently farms it," Walker explained.
She said the land trust was in the process of applying for funds to purchase the development rights on the 40 acres from Paul and Marie Hartshorn and then sell the land to David Hartshorn.
Paul and Marie Hartshorn own the 40 acres in question, plus other parcels of land on which there are currently five permitted building lots. Those lots were permitted in 2007 after a legal battle over whether the town could require new subdivisions to have the potential for road connectivity to other subdivisions. Paul and Marie Hartshorn also have permitted building lots on some of the 40 acres that will be conserved. Those lots were created in a circa 1998 subdivision.
FUNDING FORMULA
Walker told the planning commission this week that initially what is needed is a letter of support for the project from the town, but also outlined a funding formula whereby the town would contribute $5,000 towards the project.
The property has been appraised and, although the appraisal price is private, Walker was able to explain the funding formula, which consists of approximately two-thirds of the $350,000 to $400,000 total cost of the project being funded by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and a third of it being funded by the Mad River Conservation Partnership with a donation from the Hartshorns and additional fund raising.
Walker said that the project received preliminary approval from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) in 2007 and said the application for some $300,000 in funding from will be submitted to VHCB this month. At this week's meeting before the planning commission she said the local conservation partnership is hoping to bring $65,000 to $70,000 to the table in local leverage for the project.
REDUCED THE PRICE
The development rights and land are being offered at a reduced price by the Hartshorns to the land trust, Walker said this week, noting that they had reduced the price by 21 percent.
Walker said negotiations for the project had been underway for a year and that timing of the project would depend on the availability of VHCB funding.
"We know that this is a difficult funding environment, but we're hopeful that VHCB will consider this in the next quarter," she said.
"This is a good project, given its access, visibility, location and the fact that it would be a permanent conservation easement," she told the planning commissioners.
PRIME AG LANDS
Protecting the prime ag lands along the Mad River/Route 100 corridor has been the focus of much Vermont Land Trust/Mad River Conservation Fund work over the past decade.
"We have protected the Maynard farm, the Turner farm and portions of the Neill farm. Those are three properties in this corridor that represent the working landscape and that are critical to keeping farming alive in The Valley," she said.
"That whole corridor has been recognized for its scenic qualities and its historical agricultural use. To project that character and that highly coveted farmland is a primary goal," she added.
David Hartshorn is currently farming the 40 acres in question. He grows organic fruits and vegetables and also uses portions of the land for the yaks from the Vermont Yak Company, a business he shares with Rob and Kate Williams as well as Ted and Susan Laskaris.
Planning commissioners voted unanimously to provide a letter of support for the project.
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