Thread by @shayshinecastle

It's to OK a conservation easement at Long's Gardens, assuming 2H passes and provides funding. Here's the staff presentation: www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/2A_Longs_…

A bit about Long's Gardens: 25.34 acres at 3240 Broadway and 1350 Hawthorn
Has been working farmland / ag production for 100+ years
45,000 estimated annual visitors

Currently owned by Catherine Long Gates, Margaret Anne Long and the Long Property Limited Partnership, the property has been in the Long family since 1916 and is designated as a Centennial Farm by History Colorado

Currently on the land:
200 community garden plots
Commercial plant and flower growing operation
CSA
HQ for nonprofit Growing Gardens
Mountain Flower Goat Dairy

Boulder has been kicking around the idea of a conservation easement since 2007. They got real serious in 2011, but no funding could be found.

The conservation easement will have a minimum purchase price of $5.3M and not more than 2020 revenues from open space sales tax extension, if passed (which is supposed to bring in $5.3M)

If it costs more “an existing funding source” will make up the difference

OSMP paying $50K in due diligence costs from its acquisition CIP

What is a conservation easement? (Staff's words):
A legal agreement between a landowner and
a qualified conservation organization or
government agency that permanently limits a
property’s uses in order to conserve its
conservation values

Ownership remains with the landowner but
future owners will be bound by its terms

Flexible and can be written to meet the goals,
needs and circumstances of the landowner
while conserving the property’s conservation
values

The purpose of this conservation easement will be to keep the farm as a farm (or ag use) and prevent redevelopment into something else.

Here are some key conditions of the Long's Gardens conservation easement:
Protects the property’s scenic, agricultural and
passive recreational “Conservation Values”

Permits existing, and allows for new,
improvements within the West and East
Building Areas

Recognizes current, separate ownership of
the property but future conveyances to nonfamily members must be of the entire property

Prohibits certain agricultural uses and operations

Ties the water rights to the property

Affirmative Agricultural Covenant—requires the
property owner to engage in Productive Agricultural Uses

Requires the property to be managed in accordance with an Agricultural Management Plan

The city will monitor the property to make sure the easement terms are being respected, including a once-a-year visit.

Here's what else the conservation easement will include:
22.5 shares of Silver Lake Ditch & Reservoir Co
1/10 and 1/20 shares of Farmers Ditch water
Permanent easements for the bike paths through the property (Paths will keep being maintained by public works dept)

Open Space Board of Trustees OK'd this on Oct. 9

The easement doesn't require the current uses to continue forever, or that future uses have to be nonprofit.

They just have to be ag, defined as the "production, raising, processing, storage, and sale or distribution of agricultural and horticultural products, crops and livestock for food, fiber, and flowers

Closing of the deal won't happen until March 2021.

Jones asking for an explanation of how this is tied to 2H.

I already posted, but I'll post again: boulderbeat.news/2019/10/16/bal…

If 2H doesn't pass, the acquisition and easement won't occur. "So I hope everybody votes for it," Jones says.

OSMP doesn’t have the money in its acquisition budget for Long's Gardens. It has enough $$ left for 1 big acquisition and 1 small (already planned), plus two years of maintenance for the properties.

(That's in my story. I suggest you read it.)

This easement also prohibits the leasing of mineral rights under the Long's Gardens property.

Owners are applying for a federal tax credit/deduction to make up the Dif between what the city will pay and the actual market value, which further restricts mineral rights development. (We're talking oil/gas drilling here.)

Thanks to Sam Lounsberry for reminding me of this fantastic piece my former boss wrote about how land protected by conservation easements in BoCo is targeted for drilling. dailycamera.com/2017/12/22/bou…

Brockett: "The city will have a long-term seat at the table and will be required to permit changes" to the land. (It was a question but it works well as an explainer statement.)

(This was not in regards to drilling, btw. We've moved on.)

Only one public speaker, Amanda Bickel, who said she felt *someone* should speak since it's a public hearing.

Council asks Catherine Long to come up, and she does. "The good thing about it taking so long (to get an easement) is that we've all learned some things," she says.

"As a farmer, I know there are no guarantees." But we've done what we can to protect this land for the future.

BUT we shouldn't look to far into the future, she says.

Applause from council and the audience.

Motion made. Now council gushing, as they do.

Morzel: "I hope ppl are going to get out there and support this."

"You've caretaked history and brought joy and beauty to Boulder," Jones says.

Brockett: "I bike past there three times a week and it always brings me joy. I always say hi to the llama."

OK, that wraps this one. @threadreaderapp please unroll.

(Sorry I missed the vote; I was yakking with Sam. Let's just assume it was unanimous. Apologies!)