Rural Land Management Board

Summary

Meeting Overview

The PDR Board Meeting was held on January 22, 2025, and was presided over by Gloria Martin. The meeting covered three agenda items, all of which were informational in nature: the Small Farm Conservation Easement Program, the Urban Growth Master Plan, and a Presentation of Closed Farms. The board took 2 votes during the course of the meeting and heard no public comments. No members of the public provided testimony during this session.

Attendance

Present: Gloria Martin, Beth, Margaret, Phil Meyer, Phil Hager, Robert James, Will Meyer, Joanna, Gloria, Hill Boone, Tyler Morton, Christine, Stephen Howard, Tracy, Jim Coleman, Christine Stanley, and Olivia.

Late: Christine and Tracy arrived after the meeting began.

Absent: Commissioner Horn, Sean Denny, and Allison Tucker.

Votes and Decisions

Two motions were brought before the Board at the January 22, 2025 meeting, both of which passed unanimously.

• Approval of December 11th Meeting Minutes 9:01: The Board voted to approve the minutes from the December 11th meeting. The motion was seconded by Christine and passed by unanimous vote.

• Election of Officers 48:48: The Board voted to elect the following officers: Gloria Martin as chair, Robert James as vice chair, and Phil Meyer as treasurer. The motion was made by Beth and seconded by Christine. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Neither vote was a roll call vote, so individual member votes are not recorded.

Appointments

The Board took action on two appointments during the January 22, 2025 meeting.

• Hill Boone was appointed as the 12th District Council Member.
• Tyler Morton was appointed as the 1st District Council Member.

Small Farm Conservation Easement Program

9:35

The Board held a discussion on a new ordinance establishing the Small Farm Conservation Easement Program. The program is designed to assist owners of small farm properties ranging from 10 to less than 20 acres.

Key speakers in the discussion included Gloria Martin, Beth, and Tracy. The item was presented as informational, with no formal vote or action taken at this meeting.

The discussion centered on the structure and intent of the new ordinance, which targets a specific segment of agricultural landowners — those with smaller farm holdings that may not qualify for or have access to larger conservation easement programs. The 10-to-under-20-acre threshold defines the eligibility range for participating property owners.

No formal action was taken as a result of this discussion. The item served as an informational presentation to the Board regarding the proposed program's framework.

Urban Growth Master Plan

19:16

The Board held a discussion on the Urban Growth Master Plan, with Tracy serving as the key presenter and speaker on the item.

The discussion centered on the plan's development and the implications of House Bill 443 on existing development plans. A primary focus was the bill's requirement for more objective criteria to be incorporated into the planning process. This legislative requirement appears to have a direct impact on how the Urban Growth Master Plan is structured and implemented, necessitating adjustments to ensure compliance with the new standards.

No formal action was taken on this item, as it was presented for informational purposes. The discussion served to brief the Board on the intersection of the Urban Growth Master Plan and the mandates introduced by House Bill 443.

Presentation of Closed Farms

25:41

Beth presented a detailed overview of farms recently closed under the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program. The presentation covered 11 farms totaling 832 acres that have been closed, bringing the program's grand total to 33,089 acres preserved.

This agenda item was informational in nature, with Beth providing the Board with an update on the latest closings and the cumulative acreage protected through the PDR program to date.