Fayette County’s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program 1 st Annual Report for 2001-2002

1. Fayette County’s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program 1st Annual Report for 2001-2002 Presented To: Lexington Fayette Urban County Council By: The Fayette County Rural Land Management Board and the PDR Staff August 27, 2002

2. Fayette County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) 1st Annual Report The Rural Land Management Board (RLMB) and the PDR Staff is proud to present its first Annual Report to the Urban County Council and Mayor. August 27, 2002

3. This presentation will report on the following information: • A brief summary of the history of Fayette County’s Rural protection efforts. • The goals of the Rural Land Management Plan and PDR program. • Chronology of the first two years of the PDR Program. • Summary of first round farms whose Conservation Easements have been purchased, their type and a budget summary. • Mapping of closed farms and other rural land protected by other programs or easements. • A summary of PDR applicants who have withdrawn and the reason. • Status of the second round application process and map. • Views of closed first round farms.

4. Brief History (1958-2000) : • 1958 - Urban and Rural Service Areas adopted. • 1964 - 10 acre minimum lot size enacted in Rural Service Area. • 1994 - Greenspace Plan adopted, recommends using Conservation Easements as a way to protect farms. • Late 1990’s - Dramatic rise in 10 acre lot creation. • 1998 - Moratorium put on new 10 acre lots by LFUCG Council. • April, 1999 - Rural Land Management Plan adopted by P.C. • July, 1999 - Council adopts new ordinance increasing minimum size • of new rural lots to 40 ac. Rural Plan Committee formed. • 2000 - PDR Ordinance adopted. Rural Land Management Board formed • and funded.

5. The Goals of the PDR Program are to : • Purchase Conservation Easements on 50,000 acres of Rural Fayette County. • Protect and enhance the overall Agricultural Economy in Fayette County. • Protect and enhance Fayette County’s Cultural and Historic Heritage. • Protect the Natural and Environmentally Sensitive Areas of Fayette County.

6. Key Events in 2001 for PDR Program • (January 2001) - 37 Farms initially apply. One farm drops out after being sold. 36 Farms, totaling 6350 acres, continue to participate. • (March/April) - Farms visited and documented. • (July)- Conservation Easement Agreements created specifically for Fayette County Farms. • (August)- 6 Rural Appraisers selected by Rural Land Management Board [RLMB]. • (End of November)- 36 Appraisals completed. • (December 2001)- RLMB finalizes and approves offers to 36 property owners.

7. Key Events in 2002 for PDR Program • (Winter 2002) – Farms begin to accept offers. Contracts are drawn up to lock in terms of the agreement. • (Spring 2002) – Farms execute contracts. Closing attorneys prepare for closings. • (April 2002) – Press Conference at Wildwater Farm to announce first 12 PDR farms under contract. • (May 2002) – Over 700 applications mailed to begin 2nd round. • (Late May 2002) – Closings begin on first round farms. • ( June 2002) – 105 applications received in 2nd round totaling over 11,000 acres.

8. First Round Summary to Date: • Easements have been purchased on 14 farms. Total of 2,142.681 acres. • 7 additional farms under contract. Total of 1,074.658 acres. • 21 farms protected out of the 36 farms participating. • 2 farms have accepted the Board’s offer, with contracts pending. • 3 farms are still considering the Rural Board’s offer. • 10 farms have withdrawn from 1st round*: • 6 due to price • 2 due to development potential • 2 farms have re-applied to second PDR round * Please note these are not considered “unsuccessful” applications.

9. Types of Farms Under Easement: 21 farms have closed or are under contract to close, with a total of 3,217.33 acres. Of that: • 12 Farms are “General Agriculture” (2,200.02 ac.) • 6 Farms are “Equine”(477.07 ac) • 3 Farms are “Other” (540.24 ac)

10. Payments to Landowners: • 14 Farms closed (2,142.68 ac.) with total payments of $5,874,244.25 • Local Funds Spent- $2,937,122.10 • State Funds Spent- $2,937,122.10 (from KY Ag. Dev. Bd.) • 7 Farms with closings pending (1,074.658 ac.) with total payments of • $1,756,483.85 . • Results of First Round- (21 farms to date) • Total Acres Purchased- 3,217.339 acres • Total Cost of Easements- $7,630,728.10* • Local Funds Used- $3,740,364.05 • State Funds Used- $3,740,364.05 • Federal Funds to be used - $150,000.00 • Average Cost Per Acre- $2,371.75 * Land Cost Only. Does not include closing fees

11. 1st Round PDR and Other Protected Lands In Fayette County • Dark Green properties • are PDR Farms under • conservation easements. • Teal properties are • protected by other • conservation programs. • Red “Hatched”proper- • ties are public lands. • Blue properties • are parks.

12. 2002 - Second Round of PDR Applications • Over 700 applications mailed to qualified landowners. • 105 applications received in May (1 has withdrawn; has • agreed to first round terms) totaling 10,800 acres. • Staff is in process of site visits and ranking the farms.

13. PDR and Other Protected Lands Map • In Fayette County • Dark Green properties • are PDR Farms under • conservation easements. • Orange properties are • second round applicants. • Teal properties are • protected by other • conservation programs. • Red “Hatched” proper- • ties are public lands. • Blue properties • are parks.

14. Some sample pictures of first round farms who have closed on their Conservation Easement. Tinnie Carr Farm- 44.4 acres Northern Fayette County- General Agriculture

15. Davis Farm – 94.3 acres Western Fayette County- Equine Operation

16. Congleton Farm- 110 acres Northern Fayette County General Agriculture

17. Crawford Farm- 156 acres Eastern Fayette County General Agriculture

18. Jones Farm- 156 acres Northern Fayette Co. General Agriculture

19. Dwyer Farm- 205 acres Eastern Fayette County General Agriculture

20. Featherston Farm- 30 acres Western Fayette County Equine Operation

21. Slagel Farm- 203 acres Western Fayette County General Agriculture

22. Takacs Farm – 92 acres Northern Fayette County Equine Operation

23. Schwartz Farm- 291.2 acres Eastern Fayette County General Agriculture This farm gave up 23 10 acre lots.

24. Carrick Farm- 530 acres Northern Fayette County General Agriculture Site of Press Conference. 1830’s house being renovated

25. Murphy Trust Farm- 60.62 acres (in Fay. Co.) Eastern Fayette County Equine Operation

26. Other PDR activities: • Submission of more grant applications. • Presentations to various state and local groups. • Web Site opened at- www.lfucg.com/administrativeservices/pdr

27. On behalf of the Rural Land Management Board, the PDR Staff, we’d like to thank you, the Urban County Council and Mayor Miller, for your support of this groundbreaking program and look forward to working with you in the future!

28. QUESTIONS? For More information Contact: Maner Ferguson- Program Manager LFUCG, Government Center 200 East Main St., Third Floor Lexington, KY. 40507 (859) 425-2227 fax- 258-3898 email: mferguso@lfucg.com Doug Greene- Program Administrator LFUCG, Government Center 200 East Main St., Third Floor Lexington, KY. 40507 (859) 425-2226 fax- 258-3898 email: dougg@lfucg.com or Or check our web site at www.lfucg.com/administrativeservices/pdr