Rural Land Management Board

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Rural Land Management Board convened at 3:00 PM via Zoom, with Gloria presiding over the session. The meeting covered 5 agenda items, including the approval of minutes from the January 28, 2026 meeting and two Housing and Infrastructure Requests — one for Farm 42-20-02 and one for Farm 12-2009 — both of which were approved. The board also held a Closed Session before returning to Open Session. In total, 12 votes were taken during the meeting, and no public comments were heard.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the February 25, 2026 Board meeting:

• Gloria, Beth, Margaret, Brian Jones, Jonathan Disney, Eric, Joanna Green, Phil Hager, Pete Christensen, Phil Meyer, Patrick Higginbottom, Olivia Grigsby, Lashley Grigsby, Robert James, Matt Hutchison, Lena, Stephen Howard, Jim Coleman, and Tiffany.

Absent: Mary Quinn, Christine Stanley, and Council Member Morton were not in attendance.

Late: David Hill arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

All motions at the February 25, 2026 Board meeting passed unanimously. The following actions were taken:

• Approval of January 28, 2026 Minutes 0:04: Moved by Margaret, seconded by Stephen Howard. Passed unanimously with one abstention.

• Housing and Infrastructure Request – Farm 42-20-02 0:17: Moved by Phil Meyer, seconded by Hannah. Passed unanimously. Approval is contingent on all necessary permitting being issued by the Division of Building Inspection.

• Housing and Infrastructure Request – Farm 12-2009 0:24: Moved by Margaret, seconded by Robert. Passed unanimously. Approval is contingent on all necessary permitting being issued by the Division of Building Inspection.

• Enter Closed Session 0:27: Moved by Joanna, seconded by Jim Coleman. Passed unanimously.

• Return to Open Session 0:47: Moved by Margaret, seconded by Jim Coleman. Passed unanimously.

• Authorize Offer – Small Farm 72025 0:48: Moved by Margaret, seconded by Phil Meyer. Passed unanimously.

• Authorize Offer – Small Farm 152025 0:48: Moved by Jim Coleman, seconded by Stephen Howard. Passed unanimously.

• Authorize Offer – Small Farm 162025 0:49: Moved by Phil Meyer, seconded by Margaret. Passed unanimously.

• Authorize Offer – Small Farm 3725 0:49: Moved by Margaret, seconded by Stephen Howard. Passed unanimously.

• Authorize Appraisal – Small Farm 12025 0:50: Moved by Phil Meyer, seconded by Jim Coleman. Passed unanimously.

• Authorize Appraisal – PDR Farm 12025 0:50: Moved by Jim Coleman, seconded by Hannah. Passed unanimously.

• Adjourn the Meeting 1:19: Moved by Joanna, seconded by Jim Coleman. Passed unanimously.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Board addressed one financial contract item during the February 25, 2026 meeting.

• Appraisal Services Contract: The Board considered a contract with Kenimer Appraisals in the amount of $10,000 to conduct four appraisals for farms. No resolution number or additional identifier was associated with this item in the meeting record.

No other budget or financial actions were recorded for this meeting.

Contested Items

• Large Scale Solar: The board discussed the potential impact of large-scale solar installations on agricultural land. Community opposition centered on concerns about whether solar farms are compatible with existing agricultural uses and whether prime farmland would be adequately preserved. The structured data does not identify specific individuals involved in the debate or record a final outcome from this discussion.

Approval of January 28, 2026 minutes

4:31

The board took up the approval of minutes from its January 28, 2026 meeting. No substantive debate or concerns were recorded during this agenda item.

Margaret made a motion to approve the minutes, and Stephen Howard seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with one abstention.

Housing and Infrastructure Request for Farm 42-20-02

17:58

The Board reviewed a request related to Farm 42-20-02 involving a proposed combination garage and farm office to serve as an accessory structure to an existing tenant house on the property. The item was brought forward as a discussion item, with Beth and Pete Christensen identified as key speakers during the review.

The request centered on adding the combined garage and farm office structure in connection with the tenant housing already present on Farm 42-20-02. No significant concerns or opposing viewpoints are reflected in the available record of the discussion.

The Board approved the request unanimously.

Housing and Infrastructure Request for Farm 12-2009

24:31

The board reviewed a request related to housing on Farm 12-2009, specifically concerning the removal and replacement of an existing tenant house on the property. The item was presented as a discussion, with Beth and Patrick Higginbottom identified as the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.

The board considered the request and moved to approve it. No concerns or dissenting views are reflected in the available record of this agenda item. The vote to approve the housing and infrastructure request was unanimous.

Closed Session

27:12

The board entered a closed session to discuss the potential acquisition of real property interests. This portion of the meeting was conducted outside of public view, as permitted for matters involving real property negotiations.

Key speakers involved in this item included Joanna and Jim Coleman. No additional details regarding the specific properties under consideration, the nature of the acquisition, or any positions taken by individual board members are available from the public record of this session, as the substance of closed session discussions is not disclosed.

The item was informational in nature, and no public action or vote was reported as a result of the closed session.

Return to Open Session

47:36

The board returned to open session following a closed session during which potential acquisitions were discussed. Key speakers during this portion of the meeting included Margaret and Jim Coleman.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, meaning no formal action or vote was taken upon returning to open session. No additional details regarding the substance of the closed session discussions were presented in open session beyond the notation that potential acquisitions had been the subject of deliberation.