Post by L Roebuck on Feb 24, 2006 8:26:55 GMT -5
Friday, 02/24/06
State to buy land with old trees
Area to be park after trust fund purchase
By ANNE PAINE
Staff Writer
Centuries-old white oaks almost chopped down in Bon Aqua have been approved for purchase by the state in what will be the first land buy of the new Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund.
The fund's board decided Wednesday to pay 25% of the estimated $300,000 cost of the 35 acres with the trees, pending an appraisal, Drew Goddard, chairman of the trust fund, said yesterday.
Another 25% would come from a long-standing state land acquisition fund, with 50% from federal Land and Water Conservation money.
The property will be turned into a state natural area open to the public, Goddard said. That could happen by next year.
John Noel, a businessman and environmentalist, had stepped up and written a check for the land last fall, when he knew the state couldn't act quickly enough to save the trees.
The trust fund was not yet in place but had been authorized by the legislature last year so the state could move faster when significant lands come up for sale.
The trust voted to make the buy in its second meeting.
"We certainly appreciate what John did but hope that's something we can manage in the future," Goddard said. "This is exactly the prototype we would like to have for the trust fund going forward."
Noel brought the property from investors who got it at auction and intended to sell the trees —some more than 120 feet tall, said Bill Patteson, a spokesman for the Jefferson County, Ky., attorney's office for veneer.
He said he would turn the land over at what he paid, which was slightly less than $300,000. The state expects to have costs also for easements for access across property owned by others.
"I'm excited the state has embraced the acquisition of this treasure and that it will be open to the public," Noel said.
The fund was set up with $10 million to work with public and private groups to protect natural spaces, and Gov. Phil Bredesen has proposed adding another $10 million.
Only the appraised value of land can be paid.
Aside from the slow-growing oaks, of which some are estimated to be 150 to hundreds of years old, the Bon Aqua property's interest includes a cave, nearby sulfur springs and history as part of a turn-of-the-century resort.
www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060224/NEWS01/602240393/1006/MTCN0301
State to buy land with old trees
Area to be park after trust fund purchase
By ANNE PAINE
Staff Writer
Centuries-old white oaks almost chopped down in Bon Aqua have been approved for purchase by the state in what will be the first land buy of the new Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund.
The fund's board decided Wednesday to pay 25% of the estimated $300,000 cost of the 35 acres with the trees, pending an appraisal, Drew Goddard, chairman of the trust fund, said yesterday.
Another 25% would come from a long-standing state land acquisition fund, with 50% from federal Land and Water Conservation money.
The property will be turned into a state natural area open to the public, Goddard said. That could happen by next year.
John Noel, a businessman and environmentalist, had stepped up and written a check for the land last fall, when he knew the state couldn't act quickly enough to save the trees.
The trust fund was not yet in place but had been authorized by the legislature last year so the state could move faster when significant lands come up for sale.
The trust voted to make the buy in its second meeting.
"We certainly appreciate what John did but hope that's something we can manage in the future," Goddard said. "This is exactly the prototype we would like to have for the trust fund going forward."
Noel brought the property from investors who got it at auction and intended to sell the trees —some more than 120 feet tall, said Bill Patteson, a spokesman for the Jefferson County, Ky., attorney's office for veneer.
He said he would turn the land over at what he paid, which was slightly less than $300,000. The state expects to have costs also for easements for access across property owned by others.
"I'm excited the state has embraced the acquisition of this treasure and that it will be open to the public," Noel said.
The fund was set up with $10 million to work with public and private groups to protect natural spaces, and Gov. Phil Bredesen has proposed adding another $10 million.
Only the appraised value of land can be paid.
Aside from the slow-growing oaks, of which some are estimated to be 150 to hundreds of years old, the Bon Aqua property's interest includes a cave, nearby sulfur springs and history as part of a turn-of-the-century resort.
www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060224/NEWS01/602240393/1006/MTCN0301