ASHEVILLE – In May 2022, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners set a goal of conserving 20% of its land by 2030. After approving funding to place 366 acres in conservation easements, commissioners are considering raising their goal.
Conservation easements perpetually restrict the development on a parcel of land in perpetuity. Landowners often receive tax breaks or monetary incentives from the county when they sign the deed restriction.
Commissioners approved $150,000 during a Feb. 6 board meeting to purchase an easement for the Parham-Fortner Farm on South Turkey Creek Road in Leicester. The farm spans some 30 acres of land, according to county documents.
It is a working farm laden with rich soils and produces hay and beef cattle, according to Buncombe Soil and Water Farmland Preservation Manager Ariel Zijp, who presented during the meeting. The farm’s proximity to other properties under easement make it a particularly strong candidate for conservation. It is also situated on the county’s Farm Heritage Trail, a two-hour scenic drive along Buncombe County’s conserved farmland.