Welcome to Skagit County

April 29th, 2008

Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland and Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program partner on conservation easement purchase

SKAGIT COUNTY – The Skagit County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of conservation easements on 39 acres of prime farmland located south of Mount Vernon this morning. The action extinguishes the development right on the property.

The Skagit County Commissioners established the Farmland Legacy Program in 1996, enabling the use of a Conservation Futures taxing mechanism authorized by the Washington State Legislature for easement purchases. In Skagit County, participating farmland owners receive approximately a portion of market value for their property, in exchange for retiring development rights and eliminating the potential for residential development on the property. More than 6,200 acres are now protected.

Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland partnered with the Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program for the first time to contribute half of the $98,000 required to purchase the conservation easement from the Soler Family Trust. “We’re very excited. This is the first of many partnerships to come,” said Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland Executive Director Alan Rozema. “We would like to start matching Skagit County’s program one to one.”

“This is a monumental moment in history for the Farmland Legacy Program. Partnering with Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, it is the leverage we need to protect as much farmland as possible,” said Kendra Smith, Farmland Legacy Program Executive Director.

Skagit Conservation District Manager Carolyn Kelly said that this action is another indication of the support for preserving farmland in Skagit County.

Former Skagit County Commissioner Bob Hart, who chairs the Washington State Office of Farmland Preservation Task Force, said, “This is becoming the poster child on how this program should work.”

“I have to say this parcel is dear to me,” said Commissioner Sharon Dillon. “When I come home over Conway Hill, this is the farmland I see.”

“No one is saying, ‘I want to see more pavement’ when they come down Conway Hill or Bow Hill,” said Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt.

For further information, contact:

Dan Berentson
Communications Director

360-419-3461

Left to right: Alan Rozema, Kendra Smith, Carolyn Kelly, and Bob Hart.