Title
Land Acquisition for Tree Canopy Preservation Program
Action
Action:
A. Approve the purchase of approximately 7.609 acres of land (parcel identification numbers 113-251-53, 113-251-54, 113-163-01, 113-163-02, 113-163-03, and 113-163-04), located at Windy Grove Road and Brenda Ann Road for $850,000,
B. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to negotiate and execute any documents necessary to complete this transaction, and
C. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to grant a conservation easement to the Catawba Lands Conservancy.
Body
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Alyson Craig, Planning, Design, and Development
Tim Porter, Planning, Design, and Development
Explanation
* Charlotte's Tree Canopy Preservation Program (TCPP) seeks to acquire and conserve land within Charlotte with the goal of preserving and protecting one of the city's most important natural resources: its nationally-recognized tree canopy.
* In this instance, the broker representing the property owners approached the city to determine its interest in purchase of the properties, located in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, for the TCPP.
* Staff assessed the property using the current TCPP conservation scoring model. The property scored high in comparison to previously TCPP-acquired and targeted properties with significant value related to property location, acres of contiguous tree canopy, overall ecosystem value, forest health, and overall conservation value.
* Located on the properties is a high-quality mature hardwood forest, consisting of pines, oaks, maples, and other native, beneficial species. Protection of these properties will benefit a diversity of resident and migratory wildlife, provide oxygen, and help to protect the water quality of the local watershed.
* The city will donate a conservation easement to the Catawba Lands Conservancy to ensure stewardship of the tree canopy and monitoring of the property in perpetuity.
* The purchase price is based on appraised v...
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