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Friday, June 17, 2005
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Conservation easements an option in age of development
Outdoors Editor Each day in Minnesota 60 acres of land is consumed by development, according to the Minnesota Land Trust. That statistic might seem incredible unless you live in the Brainerd lakes area, where land is being developed at a rapid rate.
Thursday at the Brainerd office of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 36 people learned how permanent easements can preserve land from development. Sponsored by the Brainerd Area Environmental Learning Network, the seminar featured a presentation by Sharon Fodness, a local landowner who placed a conservation easement on her property.
Fodness and her husband, Mike Wheeler, bought 107 acres in Lake Shore in 1987. They built a house on the land and developed a network of trails. They lived there for 13 years and raised two children.
Three years ago, as the kids got more involved in school activities, Fodness and Wheeler decided it would be more practical to live in Brainerd.
Yet with an eye on the development surrounding their land they were concerned about its future. If they sold, would they one day see it become a housing development? With a 20-acre pond, hills and trees, and Brainerd just minutes away, the possibility was real.
"It would have been painful to see it developed," Fodness said.
As they researched their options, Fodness and Wheeler learned about the Minnesota Land Trust.
"It clearly was our best choice," Fodness said.
During negotiations, the couple was impressed by the low key demeanor of the MLT.
"In no way did they try to sell us on the idea," Fodness said. "In fact, they were very cautious and said, 'Be sure you know this is what you want to do. Take your time.'"
The MLT allowed Fodness and Wheeler to tailor an easement to their liking. They sold their house and two acres but retained ownership of 102 acres and future development rights that could include two single-family houses. Three acres was given to Habitat for Humanity and now has two houses on it.
Among the provisions on the 102 acres in the permanent easement are bans on logging and motorized vehicles. Skiers and hikers are welcome on the trails.
"In the end," Fodness said, "we felt that although private property is important in our society, public property is important too, especially public access to land we hold in common. It's essential to communities and to society. This land is still able to be accessed and used."
And Fodness and Wheeler maintain ownership. They awaken these days to the sound of trains instead of loons, but they go to sleep at night knowing the loons are safe on their land in Lake Shore.
VINCE MEYER can be reached at vince.meyer@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5862.
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