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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR06-110 - authority to negotiate terms of purchase of Grange Ranch to preserve open space ~ Cx.....l t.... moved adoption of the following Resolution: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO RESOLUTION NO. 2006- ~ A RESOLUTION GRANTING AUTHORITY TO THE EAGLE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE PURCHASE OF THE GRANGE RANCH IN ORDER TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE IN EAGLE COUNTY WHEREAS, Eagle County has established earmarked funding for the purpose of acquiring and permanently preserving open space in Eagle County; and WHEREAS, Eagle County has established criteria to prioritize the selection of eligible lands for the preservation of open space; and WHEREAS, these criteria include i) preserving Eagle County's landscapes and vistas; ii) its regional heritage, agriculture, and ranching; iii) wildlife habitat and migration routes, iv) sensitive lands and environments; v) physical and visual buffers; and vi) access to streams, rivers, public lands, and dispersed recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, Eagle County's in-county regional weighting of the priority of the purchase of open space specifically recognizes 1) the elevated risk of losing critical open space in areas subject to high development pressure; and 2) the present-day economic realities of ranching; WHEREAS, the Grange Ranch is a large-parcel, historic Eagle County ranch located in the Roaring Fork Valley in Pitkin and Eagle Counties contiguous with other open space and containing access to the Roaring Fork River and its floodplains; and WHEREAS, the area in which the Grange Ranch is located faces high development pressures; and WHEREAS, the Grange family have been offered $15 million dollars by a private developer for purchase and development of the Grange Ranch; and WHEREAS, the Grange family desires to continue to operate the Grange Ranch as a working ranch and not to develop it; and WHEREAS, the Grange family desires to sell a conservation easement on their Ranch to prevent future development and uses other than its historic ranching purpose; WHEREAS, the Grange family has agreed to sell the portion of the Grange Ranch with access to the Roaring Fork River in Eagle County in fee simple, and WHEREAS, the Grange family has agreed to sell a conservation easement for the remainder of the Grange Ranch located in both Eagle and Pitkin Counties for the preservation of open space; and WHEREAS, Pitkin County has appropriated $3 million to purchase the conservation easements on the Grange Ranch; and WHEREAS, the Town of Basalt has appropriated $750,000 for conservation easements on the non-river portions of the Grange Ranch and fee ownership with Eagle County as joint tenants for the remaining, river-access portion of that property; and WHEREAS, the portions of the Grange Ranch located in Eagle County substantially exceed $1.25 million in current market value; and WHEREAS, Eagle County wishes to preserve the Grange Ranch as open space, particularly those portions of the Grange Ranch located in Eagle County; and WHEREAS, Pitkin County has entered into a contingent agreement the Grange family for purchase of the Grange Ranch as described above; and WHEREAS, Pitkin County's agreement is contingent upon Eagle County's commitment to appropriate funds for the purchase of the Grange Ranch by December 1, 2006; and WHEREAS, Eagle County previously approved purchase of the Grange Ranch for its preservation as open space for an amount up to $1.75 million; and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado wishes to grant authority to the Eagle County Attorney's Office to negotiate the terms of the purchase of the Grange Ranch in order to preserve open space in Eagle County; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO: THAT, the Board hereby resolves to purchase the riverfront property on the Grange Ranch as joint tenants in fee simple with the Town of Basalt in a form to be approved by the Eagle County Attorney's Office; and THAT, the Board hereby resolves to purchase a conservation easement on the non- riverfront portions of the Grange Ranch as co-holders with the Town of Basalt and Pitkin County in a form to be approved by the Eagle County Attorney's Office; and THAT, to the extent allowed by law, the Board resolves hereby to appropriate $1.25 million for 1) Eagle County's share of the purchase of the riverfront property on the Grange Ranch, which is located wholly within Eagle County, as joint tenants in fee simple with the Town of Basalt and 2) a conservation easement on the non-riverfront portions of the Grange Ranch located in Eagle County as a co-holder with the Town of Basalt and Pitkin County; and THAT, this $1.25 million is to be paid upon closing of the purchase of the Grange Ranch as described above pursuant to terms as negotiated by the Eagle County Attorney's Office; and THEREFORE, the Board finds, determines, and declares that this Resolution is necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado. MOVED, READ, AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado, at its regular meeting held the 21st day of November, 2006. ATTEST: COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO, by and through its BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BY:~~ Peter F. Runyon Chao ncom Commissioner Teak J. Simo ton Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners ~\.t:~ .~t..... By: By: Commissioner ~(!;v J I seconded adoption of the foregoing resolution. The roll having been called, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Runyon Commissioner Stone Commissioner Menconi This Resolution passed by the County of Eagle, State of Colorado. 3(D vote of the Board of County Commissioners of