Title
Vote to approve the additional funding of $24,600 to the Dry Creek Farm Phase I conservation easement acquisition funding award from the Farmland Preservation Fund
Abstract
The Dry Creek Farm Phase 1 conservation easement acquisition is an important project of the Chatham County Farmland Preservation Program that will be completed with matching grant fund assistance from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s “Agricultural Growth Zone” (AGZ) grant program. On November 17, 2025, the Board of Commissioners voted to allocate $212,000 from our existing farmland preservation funds to match AGZ funding and complete the conservation easement acquisition.
The survey for this conservation easement has determined that the conservation easement area will be 51 acres instead of the originally anticipated 45 acres. Therefore, the Farmland Preservation Program is requesting an additional $24,600 allocation toward this project so we can permanently preserve these additional 6 acres as part of the conservation easement acquisition.
Discussion & Analysis: This approval is necessary so we can meet AGZ grant stipulations for matching funds and complete the conservation easement acquisition. Approval of this request will facilitate the permanent conservation of 51 acres of working farmland in Chatham County.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: The Chatham County BOC established the Farmland Preservation Program in 2023 to facilitate the acquisition of permanent farmland preservation conservation easements. A strategic imperative of this initiative was to leverage matching state and federal farmland preservation grant funds, which the Dry Creek Farm Phase 1 project does-Chatham County funds are being leveraged 1:1 with funds from NCDA’s AGZ program in this project.
Preserving rural character was identified as the most important goal of the 2017 comprehensive planning process. Supporting permanent, voluntary protection of farmland is AGR Policy 5 in the comprehensive plan, and Strategy 5.1 is implementing a county-led farmland protection program.
Budgetary Impact: The requested funds are currently available in the unallocated balance of the county’s Farmland Preservation Fund. No other budget impacts are anticipated.
Recommendation/Motion: Motion to approve the additional funding of $24,600 to the Dry Creek Farm Phase I conservation easement acquisition funding award from the Farmland Preservation Fund.