Commission approves amendments for 5 conservation easements

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on March 17 approved five budget amendments to support conservation easements using its open space GO bond and special projects funds. The board also authorized an $8 million purchase of Deaverview Mountain, with most of the acreage to be placed under easement.

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved five budget amendments at its March 17 meeting to fund conservation easements from the county’s open space bond fund and related special projects funds. The amendments use allocations from a $30 million general obligation bond intended for land conservation, greenways and passive recreation. Commissioners also voted to authorize purchase of Deaverview Mountain, and county staff presented a report on a proposed unified fire protection tax. Key decisions: - The board approved five budget amendments to support conservation easements using the county’s open space GO bond and the annual special projects fund. - Two donated easements from Dador Farms in Fairview will add 31.5 acres and 65 acres to an existing easement and require $100,400 in transaction costs from the special projects fund. - The Duck Branch easement is a 62-acre project in Black Mountain that will protect about 1,600 feet of the view along the Black Mountain Rag; it needs $21,000 from the special projects fund and $155,000 from the GO bond. - The Light Center Nature Preserve is a 112-acre property on the Rocky Broad River currently owned by United Research Inc.; it includes a meditation dome, a labyrinth and a public library, and an acquisition request of $282,000 from the GO bond was made. - The commission approved an $8 million purchase of 342 acres at Deaverview Mountain, with approximately 315 acres planned for a conservation easement; closing is expected this month and full public access timing is undetermined as infrastructure is incomplete. - Fire Marshal Kevin Tipton presented a report on a unified fire service protection district tax; a public hearing and ordinance vote are scheduled for April 21, and inclusion in the recommended county budget would follow if approved before the June 2 budget vote. Summary: The actions extend county-funded conservation efforts through donated and acquired easements and move forward a major land purchase at Deaverview Mountain, while officials also explored countywide changes to fire protection funding. The commission set a public hearing and ordinance vote on the proposed unified fire service tax for April 21, and the recommended county budget vote is scheduled for June 2.