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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>John:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>My recommendation is a CR to an established Land Trust with a
proven track record and a likelihood of a strong, continuing future, with
fairly explicit provisions written into the “permitted uses”
section of the CR for the seed orchard and the BC3 orchard. This would
require a little “chicken or the egg” negotiation with everyone
(TACF, Land Trust, Granville, and DCR) to be certain that everyone was
comfortable with the seed orchard and the BC3 orchard as a permitted use.
Since there is a risk that TACF protocols could change over time span for seed orchard,
and since there is a certainty the TACF personnel will change over time, the “permitted
uses” language should be drafted to allow for some change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Steps are probably:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(1) Decide what TACF needs. Not just size and
location, but also care and maintenance of orchard. For example, DCTR
(and some towns) are super-sensitive to use of herbicides and pesticides on CR
land. At present, some of our orchards use herbicides. There’s
a chance that as we move towards nut production, we’ll want to use
pesticides for control of chestnut weevil. So the “permitted uses”
is going to need some language along the lines of “use a portion of the
land for a seed production orchard, which may involve the incidental use of
herbicides and pesticides consistent with best practices.” Might
need right to cut trees on adjacent land that could shade the orchard?
Right to pump water from stream/well for irrigation? (although presumably once
trees are established, irrigation is no longer needed). Developing this
language requires use of a crystal ball, but the effort is essential.
Ideal for TACF is an easement, given and recorded immediately <u>before</u> CR
is given and recorded, so that legally CR is subject to the easement. In
the (hopefully unlikely) event of a fight between TACF and land trust down the
road, or in the (hopefully equally unlikely) demise of the land trust, the
recorded easement insures that TACF’s rights are protected. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(2) Simultaneously identify and approach a land trust with
a track record, initially just on concept. Feedback from land trust will
help shape language for TACF easement. I don’t know if Granville
has a land trust. If it does not, Granville Conservation Commission could
be a possibility. The Trustees of Reservations could be another
possibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(3) Once (1) and (2) look to be sufficiently in hand,
approach Town of Granville on concept (which by statute MUST approve the gift
of a CR). In my experience, most towns respond positively, but there is
still a definite protocol of exploratory talk(s) before anything formal is
proposed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(4) Once (1), (2) and (3) look pretty definite, approach
DCR on concept (currently that’s Irene Del Bono). Since it is not
common for a CR to be subject to an easement of this nature, there will
be an educational process with DCR. Very likely to be positive, but still
an educational process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(5) Once everything else looks pretty definite, go to an
appraiser with credential that IRS will approve for a valuation of the gift.
You need an appraisal that is approximately simultaneous with the gift.
Land Trust signs Form 8283 to acknowledge receipt of the gift.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I doubt that “National” is currently qualified to
hold an interest real estate in Massachusetts. National could probably become
qualified, but in my experience most non-profits are leary about extending
their commitments in that fashion. Ruffin would have a sense of degree of
interest in National in holding a Mass. CR.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Given the relative youth of the Mass Chapter of TACF, and our
complete lack of familiarity with land ownership issues, I would not recommend
a gift of a CR to Mass Chapter. The easement is sufficient to protect the
interests of the Mass Chapter. We could probably increase our competence to
become an owner of a CR, but that’s a quantum leap for a volunteer
organization. IRS seems to be moving towards more and more formal
requirements for maintenance of a CR. We don’t need those
headaches. My feeling is that we’d do better to concentrate on our
volunteer orchard managers and our educational activities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>MUCH easier for the appraiser to deal with the entire gift of 50+
acres that to deal with gifts of a small parcel and a big parcel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> John Meiklejohn
[mailto:j.johnmeiklejohn@comcast.net] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, December 05, 2009 5:08 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Mirick, John O.<br>
<b>Cc:</b> masschestnutorchards@masschestnut.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> conservation restrictions & easements<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To:
John Mirick</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From:
John Meiklejohn</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Re:
structuring conservation easements or restrictions</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In
reading the sample CR held by the Princeton Land Trust that you'd forwarded
several questions arose pertinent to our planned CR or CE in Granville, MA, and
the same questions may be relevant for others setting up seed orchard related
easements on behalf of the MA/RI-TACF. Briefly -</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
1. We expect to have two fields totalling about 2 to 2.5 acres
that will need to be put into a CE or CR for the benefit
of TACF. One is a BC3 existing orchard and the other is the planned
seed orchard.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
2. These fields are a part of 50-55 acre parcel that we plan
to put into a CE or CR in 2010. These two fields are also on the edge of
this larger acreage, so conceivably these fields could either be a part of the
large CE/CR or a separate smaller one.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Questions:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
1. Is it possible to set up, with a land trust, a CE or CR for
the entire acreage in question, including the 2+ acres dedicated to TACF's
mission, specifying carefully under "permitted uses" the various
aspects of TACF's work? Could this adequately protect TACF's access to
and maintenance of the orchard fields?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
2. If #1 is possible, is it preferable to setting up a CE or CR for the
TACF fields, separate from the larger acreage?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
3. What might the pros and cons be of #1 for TACF [and ourselves as
landowners]?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
4. Are either MA-TACF or the national TACF legally permitted to hold CEs
or CRs or would a land trust or other entity need to be involved on TACF's
behalf? [I assume they will need an alliance with one or more land
trusts.]</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I
look forward to and appreciate your thoughts on all this.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thanks,
in advance,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>John</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
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