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
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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