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2 <br />The planned conservation easement areas are depicted on the attached site map. The draft deed <br />of conservation easement and survey are also provided. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The appraised value of the conservation easement is $411,000, which was <br />determined by an appraisal by Kirkland Appraisals, LLC. <br />The purchase price for the conservation easement is $411,000, the full appraised value. <br />Additional costs, including closing and transactional costs, bring the estimated total at closing to <br />427,500. Staff worked with the landowners to identify the following budget: <br />Orange County (Lands Legacy)222,000 <br />RambleRill Farms (Owner Donation) 205,500 <br />427,500 (acquisition + transaction) <br />Funds for the easement purchase would come from Orange County ($205,500 purchase price <br />plus $16,500 for survey, legal and closing costs), and a donation from the landowners for half of <br />the appraised value ($205,500 purchase price). <br />The County's share of funds ($222,000) would come from existing funds budgeted and approved <br />for the Lands Legacy program (Conservation Easement Fund). <br />The RambleRill Farms property is enrolled in the Present Use Value taxation program, so the <br />conservation easement would not lessen the amount of property taxes paid to the County. There <br />would be no decrease in the property's market value caused by the conservation easement (and <br />extinguishing of portion of its development rights) since it would not lower the property value to a <br />level that is less than the current present use value. <br />With this allocation, approximately $1.029 million remains available in the Lands Legacy <br />Conservation Easement account. This amount does not include funds already appropriated for <br />approved projects or pending closing. <br />ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: <br />GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION <br />OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds. <br />OBJECTIVE 7. Conserve and protect high priority open space, including Natural Heritage <br />sites, nature preserves, watershed riparian buffers, and prime/threatened farmland. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt and authorize the <br />Chair to sign the resolution approving the acceptance by Orange County of the conservation <br />easement; and authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the conservation easement agreement, <br />subject to final review by staff and County Attorney, with a closing and recordation of the document <br />expected to occur between July and September 2025. <br />Docusign Envelope ID: F68C289B-897D-4E9C-8B77-C5477012992E