From Auction to Partnership Tecumseh Land Trust Community

From Auction to Partnership Tecumseh Land Trust, Community Solutions, and YS Credit Union

How We Usually Preserve Land • Permanent Conservation Easements, both donated and purchased: – Easement Value = Market Value – Agricultural (or as is) value Example: $8, 000/acre Market Value - $6, 000/acre Farm Value $2, 000/acre Easement Value – Purchased easements generally take 2 years to complete

Conservation Easements – Present and future landowners live on, farm, manage and enjoy land – Restricts development and subdivision of land – Easement “travels with the land” – Permanent attachment to a deed

Landowners have choices!

Parcels for Auction

Why is this property important?

Green Belt Planned - 1977

Arnovitz Auction Timeline • February 16, 2017 – Matt Arnovitz calls – Likely auction date set • • Feb. 21 – Yellow Springs Council Meeting February 23 – Yellow Springs News Article Feb. 25 – Land Trust Board walks property Feb. 25 – Community Solutions Soils Conference

Timeline • Feb 27 – Land Trust Board Meets – Approves as project – Board members volunteer to assist with Village communications and Auction night – Commit 1% for Green Space funds; go ahead to raise more money to work with conservation buyer(s) • Feb 28 -- Calls, calls; meeting dates set

Timeline • March 4 – Community organizing meeting at Village headquarters – workgroups for bidding, fund raising, cons. education • March 5 – Sugar Shack event • March 6 -- Village Council Exec Session and meeting – To bid or not to bid; – Commitment of $200, 000 Green Space Funds – Decision not to annex

Timeline • March 7 - Bidders Open House 11 AM - 1 PM • March 7–Walk property with TNC staff • March 8 – Bidders Education Night • March 9 – Bidders Open House 8 - 10 AM • March 9 -- 2 nd walk with TNC plus Co. Park District • March 12 – Bidders Open House 4 – 6 PM

Timeline • March 13 – Land Trust Exec Committee on likely bidders, strategy – Option document drafted • March 14 – Bidders Open House 5 – 7 PM • March 15 -- $357, 000 pledged or donated • March 16 – Auction 6 PM – 6 buyers for 9 parcels

1940 Founding Purpose—To explore the small community as the foundation of civilization. 2016 Strategic Plan • Community • • Resilience Community Economics Regenerative Land Use Energy Democracy “Being the Change”

Path to Auction • • • Krista Magaw Presents Member Challenge Training Sessions Other Support Green Space Funds Yellow Springs Credit Union

Auction

Conservation Partnership Project • Applying for 5 year award from Natural Resource Conservation Service • Potential to improve water quality in a sub -water shed of the Little Miami through best practices – Environmental Quality Improvement Program funding • Funding for conservation easement purchase on farms in the watershed

Flood Plain in the Larger Watershed

Reaching out to Local Partners – Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District – YSI/Xylem – Townships – Nature Conservancy – Ohio EPA – Clean Ohio programs – Area Colleges – Yellow Springs K – 12 Project Based Learning

Regional Partnership • April 21 -- Pre-application due • September 7 – Full proposal due with letters of commitment from 12 partners • December 21 – Award announced • March 2018 – Negotiating agreement and deliverables for award • Summer and Fall 2018 – landowner outreach • Early 2019 – Property applications