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Why to Vote NO on the Open Space Bond

11 minutes ago
4 min read

Why to Vote NO on the

Open Space Bond


Paid for by Jan4liberty and Friends, Hendersonville NC


#1. It’s just the first of additional tax burdens. Buncombe Co voted for a $30M conservation bond in 2022; now asking for $30M more “to meet our goal of goal of 700 acres per year”. AgHC admits more bonds are coming. When will it end? Who’s managing the slush fund?

 

#2. Conservation easements don't "protect", they RESTRICT! Farmers in the know won’t take the bait because:

- Dictates farming methods (State-defined “Best Management Practices”). They can still farm, but only as the State dictates.

- Restricts building, paving, storage of materials, motorized vehicle use.

- Prohibits landscaping, grading, clearing of vegetation, sod farming.

- Government bureaucrat inspections; penalties for non-compliance.

- Percentage of easement value is required back from farmers.

 

- A building “Envelope” must be determined up front at time of the agreement specifying any future repairs, building, tree trimming, etc.  How does one know what they, their heirs, or subsequent owners may need in the future?

 

#3. The restrictions are FOREVER with no mechanism for relief.   “Take the bait today; wear the chains tomorrow.” If family dynamics change or financial situation changes after the easement is in place, can it be amended or revised?  No!

 

#4. Proponents deceitfully keep our focus on dense subdivisions, but "non-agricultural commercial use” is also restricted [i]      

- Your daughter later wants to build a kennel to raise & sell puppies? Can’t do!  Non-agricultural! Not specified in your Building Envelope!

- Actual example: Man wanted to build a horseback riding ring on his farm in Clyde. Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy said NO!  A court ordered him to restore the property (put those weeds back!).

 

#5. Easements do NOT solve the problem of loss of farmland to dense housing developments. AgHC has been “helping” Henderson County “solve the problem” since 2011 and has spectacularly failed!  They STILL haven’t figured out that those who CAUSED the problem can solve it!  “Residential Open Spaces Development”, “High-density Clustering”, etc all require a VOTE OF APPROVAL from City Council members and County Commissioners. All they need is the guts to   STOP APPROVING THEM, dammit! 

 

#6.  Those pushing the bond are furthering the Marxist UN’s policy “Land cannot be controlled by individuals” [ii]. UN’s plan = move land from private to government control in increments.   This is an increment.  Maybe AgHC doesn’t really WANT to solve the problem.

 

#7.  Put a moratorium on development instead! Need to assess:

1)     Is the expressed will of We the People being thwarted?  Concerns about loss of farmland was #2 in the 2022 “community-driven Visioning plans” [iii].

2)     Are we now OVER-developed, as Buncombe County is.  Asheville’s rash of development has left “new units searching for tenants” per WLOS [iv]

 

Paid for by Jan4liberty and Friends, Hendersonville NC

 



Some more sources:

·        “The Sierra Club prefers public acquisition of land”

·       https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/code-document/article-viii-agricultural-conservation-easements The purchase of agricultural conservation easements is legally binding, restricting the owners and future owners to agricultural and/or forestry land use. The agricultural conservation easements will be held by either Henderson County, the Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District [managed by a five-member Board of Supervisors (three elected locally, two appointed by the state) and staffed by a District Director and conservationists], Cooperative Extension, or in public trust by a qualified conservation organization. 

·       https://ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_106.pdf § 106-744 A county may, with the voluntary consent of landowners, acquire by purchase agricultural conservation easements over qualifying farmland as defined by G.S. 106-737. (b) For purposes of this section, "agricultural conservation easement" means a negative easement in gross restricting residential, commercial, and industrial development of land for the purpose of maintaining its agricultural production capability

·       https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/news/2014/01/26/stream-restoration-project-pays-homage-to-laurel-park-history/28313970007/    Laural Park had to bend to conservation easement in making of nature trail

·        https://conservingcarolina.org/our-impact/landowners/conservation-easements-101/ Each conservation easement is different and specifically tailored to the property it restricts

·        -If my family dynamics change or my financial situation changes after the easement is in place, can it be amended or revised?  [No]

·        -Can I ever build on my land after I donate a conservation easements? [Only if you reserve the right, specifically permitting it in the conservation easement]. 

·        -Can I add on/renovate my home? [Only if planned for in the conservation easement; you will be asked to estimate the max square footing you would anticipate adding during any type of building or renovations.] 

·       -Can I remove dead and dying trees? [only if reserve the right with specific language in your conservation easement, often with a requirement to provide notice to Conserving Carolina when such activities are going to be carried out]. 

·        https://canadafreepress.com/2005/lamb102405.htm Old but good explanation of UN Agenda 21.

·        https://www.thelandlawyers.com/conservation-easements-buyer-beware/ When you see the slick marketing materials about the advantages of a conservation easement, you don’t see the negatives… the cards are stacked against the property owner.

 

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