County approves 410-acre farmland preservation easement for Hot Legacy Ventures

Allison Jewell, representing the Hampshire County Farmland Protection Board, asked the commission Jan. 13 to approve a conservation easement on a 410-acre property on South Fork Little Cape M Road. Jewell said the proposal leaves a primary home site and several reserved home sites, adds utility buffers along the public road and would bring the program’s total protected acres to 7,437.

Jewell warned that recent legislative proposals to place time limits on easements would jeopardize federal funding and remove tax benefits for landowners who donate or bargain-sell easements. “If they take away the permanency of conservation easements, we can't apply to federal funding,” Jewell said, adding that loss of permanency would also affect the IRS charitable-contribution treatment available to donors.

Commissioners asked technical questions about the easement buffers and the board’s capacity to process applications. Jewell said funding is the limiting factor: the Farmland Protection Board currently has about 10 unfunded applications and can typically close one or two easements a year, depending on outside funding. Board members asked the commission to remain available to provide letters of support for state and federal grant applications.

Commissioner Eglanger moved to accept the easement as presented; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The decision allows the Farmland Protection Board to proceed with closing the Hot Legacy Ventures easement and adds the 410-acre parcel to the county’s protected acreage total.