July 07, 2009 Land Committee Minutes
Items for Follow-up
□ Bill Dahlsrom will review the Feed for Services proposal and investigate the impact that this service might have on our non-profit status.
□ John D. , RJ T., Scott N. and Don E. will meet to develop a CCF Policy Paper addressing our Energy Development Policy.
□ John D. and RJ T. will continue work on DWF’s Leo Ranch Conservation Easement document.
□ Scott N. and RJ T. meet with Twelve Hills Nature Center staff to review their needs for transfer of easement.
□ Land Committee will set up a meeting or meetings with City of Frisco and/or NTMWD in late July.
Available Projects (still open for a Volunteer)
□ Investigation of Collin County bond funds and grants that are available for trails and trail enhancement plantings on conservation easement lands and/or on for open space acquisition.
□ Create a power point template for upcoming outreach presentations (based on current CCF presentation).
□ Create public/private educational presentations to market our services.
□ Complete easement templates on 8 other easements (started by Dave Baldwin).
Committee Chair:Marcus Yarbrough
Date of Next Meeting:
8/4/2009 / Members: John Dugdale, Don Engleman, Scott Norris, David Morgan, RJ Taylor (CCF staff)
Items Needing Board Discussion
1. Fee for Services Proposal – Bill D is investigating the impact that this service might have on our non-profit status.
Activity Report
1. CCF has acquired 50 copies of the revised “Preserving Family Lands” booklet for distribution to potential easement holders, attorneys and land planners as a marketing tool.
2. DWF Leo Ranch Conservation Easement. Finalizing Conservation Easement document and baseline report. RJ, John Dugdale and Mark Y. spent some time walking the ranch and documenting flora and fauna for addition to the baseline report. Bill Carr from the Texas Nature Conservancy is performing ongoing vegetation surveys. RJ Taylor and John Dugdale are working with Robert Potts to finalize the terms of the Conservation Easement.
3. Working on Skip Barnett’s 2nd conservation easement. RJ Taylor has revised baseline report. Started work on conservation easement document.
4. Woodson Place Conservation Development. Chris Allen has accepted the Stewardship Endowment value. RJ Taylor attended the June 6 Open House and gave a presentation on CCF and Conservation Easements.
5. Discussions with The Sanctuary HOA regarding establishment of a buffer zone behind the fence line to allow maintenance crew to mow and remove poison ivy. Underbrush has been trimmed along fencelines, and buffer zone will be maintained by the HOA’s landscape team with concurrence of CCF. HOA is considering a dirt access trail through west side of easement to allow walking access to nearby school.
6. Chimney Rock Estates Conservation Development – CCF has released the performance fee for re-vegetation of construction access by 3700 Chimney Rock Dr.
7. Gardens of Connemara – Beavers have been populating the ponds in the Gardens of Connemara. This has caused some damage to existing trees and concern that it would spread to the nearby tree farms. Montgomery Farms have been live trapping the beavers to limit damage. This was observed on a recent nature walk and a trapped beaver was in distress presumably due to the heat. This prompted a letter of concern from the Sierra Club over the practice. The Land Committee feels the humane removal of the beavers is consistent with the easement at the Gardens of Connemara. Montgomery Farms will address the issue with the Sierra Club staff.
8. Potential Easement - Anita Martin Arabian Horse Farm in Weatherford, Texas. Attorneys of the estate have inquired about the possibility of an easement. Property is 120 acres in size, with 40 acres of native savannah/prairie. The 80-acre horse farm portion will be used by TCU as a riding school.
9. Potential Easement - Twelve Hills Nature Center has lost its third party easement holder, and has inquired as to the option of Connemara Conservancy taking over the easement. RJ Taylor and Scott Norris to set up meeting with Twelve Hills Nature Center staff to discuss land protection options and potential sources of monies for any stewardship endowments. Possible money sources could include year school district budgets, county funding, and open space funds from HOAs.
10. Potential Easement - RJ Taylor has been approached by Margaret McDowell, a landowner near Anna, Texas who’s property is in the line of the Collin County Outer Loop. She is seeking aid in rescuing native prairie plants from the footprint of the project, but Scott Norris advised the committee that she is possibly seeking aid in blocking the transportation project. She might also be willing to consider an easement, but her remaining lands are mostly improved pasture and croplands.
11. Scott Norris brought up a potential easement project on the East Fork of the Trinity River. Property is managed/owned by Anna Land, Ltd.
12. John Dougdale will work with his staff to generate a contact/mail list for the committee members. RJ Taylor asked if there were any suggestions for new committee members.
Committee Projects Over the Next Two Months
1. RJ Taylor will assemble a list of attorneys, land planners, tax advisors, appraisers and surveyors who could be added to a list if landowners are looking for assistance. It needs to be discussed how this information can be distributed without giving the impression of CCF specifically recommending these individuals. A disclaimer could be added to list.
2. Besides the above-mentioned new easements and strong leads, there are other projects with potential as gifts/easements in various stages of discussion:
David Kusin Tract Melissa, TX
Eliz. Kuebler Tract Hunt Co., TX
Margaret McDermott Tract Allen, TX
Villas de Montalcino Conservation Development Flower Mound, TX
Continue to work to gain commitment on these, or work up a recommendation for turning down activity by CCF.
3. It was brought up that CCF should target lands in the path or area of large projects such as the Outer Loop, large municipal water projects and the Inland Port. It was decided to set up discussions with Frisco and North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) to investigate potential projects. Targeting the week of July 27th.
4. Continue outreach to outlying counties via NCRS and Texas AgriLife, along with responding to phone and email inquiries.
5. Continue to define an Energy Development Policy (oil and gas, wind and solar power). RJ Taylor, Don Engelman, John Dugdale and Scott Norris to meet and work up a draft, based on the Texas Nature Conservancy’s energy development policy. John Dugdale will acquire TNC’s policy for review.
6. Close on the DWF easement at Leo Ranch.