<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 14-130. - Repurchase of conservation easements.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">General.</span> The designation of agricultural priority areas and the subsequent purchase of conservation
               easements is intended to create areas with sufficient amounts of contiguous agricultural
               and/or open space land to facilitate the permanent agricultural and/or open space
               of use of the land. While program activity will be directed toward that goal, success
               is dependent on the voluntary participation of landowners. If a landowner or several
               owners of small tracts are the only participants in their area, the goal may not be
               achieved. These landowners could become land locked by development and agricultural
               activity and/or open space use may become impractical. In such a situation it may
               be in the best interest of the landowner and the public to allow repurchase of the
               conservation easements for the property in question. Other circumstances could also
               affect a property's suitability for continued agricultural and/or open space use.
               Repurchase of conservation easements by a landowner is foreseen as an unusual and
               infrequent occurrence, and would take place with the concurrence of the farmland board
               and the BOCC.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Repurchase procedure.</span> A landowner requesting a review of his property for possible repurchase of conservation
               easements should do so by certified letter to the Durham County manager. The letter
               should state the reason for the request and the date that the property was entered
               into the program. Upon approval in principle to the repurchase, the landowner must
               submit two appraisals of value for the property in question. One appraisal will establish
               the fair market value of the property at its current highest and best use. The second
               appraisal will establish the value of the property for agricultural or open space
               use. Other appraisals will be secured as necessary. The farmland board will review
               the appraised values and recommend to the BOCC to either repurchase the property or
               decline to repurchase the property. If a repurchase price is approved by the farmland
               board of commissioners, the landowner will be notified. If the price is acceptable
               to the landowner, he/she will submit a written offer to purchase the conservation
               easements. If this offer is granted by the county, closing proceedings will begin.
               The county may accept the bid and advertise for upset bids. When legal documents are
               prepared and adequate financing is available, a date, time, and location for closing
               will be agreed upon. Payment shall be made directly to the county at closing by a
               certified check or equivalent payment.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 7-12-99, Â§ V; Ord. of 5-27-03)
               </p></div>