Catawba Lands Conservancy

“The Conservancy (CLC) holds conservation easements (CEs) on five properties (the Properties) that lie in the path of a new sewer line planned by the City of Charlotte (the City). In May, 2014, the City initiated separate lawsuits against each of the property owners (the Owners) and CLC seeking to acquire by eminent domain both temporary construction and permanent sewer easements (the Sewer Easements) across each of the Properties. The temporary construction easements were typically 10-15 feet wide and the permanent sewer line easements were typically a maximum of 25 feet wide. The area subject to these easements was a minimal portion of each property.CLC and the Owners negotiated with the City as to the total amount that would be owed by the City in exchange for the Sewer Easements. The compensation amounts were based on before and after appraisals of each of the Properties. In October, 2014, the Citys lawsuits as to three of the properties were dismissed. In January 2015, the City's lawsuits as to the remaining two properties were dismissed pursuant to consent judgments entered by a Mecklenburg County Superior Court judge and consented to by the City, the Owners, and CLC. Condemnation award proceeds of $9,881 as to three of the lawsuits were distributed in December 2014 and reported on our 2014 Form 990. Condemnation proceeds of $6,480 as to the remaining two lawsuits were distributed in February 2015, and these two are being reported in 2015.Changes to the CEsAs a result of the condemnation proceedings, the CEs held by CLC were technically changed in that the City is allowed to enter a designated portion of each of the Properties and construct and thereafter permanently maintain an underground sanitary sewer line on a designated route, all as shown on Project maps attached as exhibits to the complaints filed by the City and to the consent judgments.”

“The land stewardship staff inspects each property encumbered by a conservation easement to ensure compliance with the provisions in the easement document.Staff assesses current conditions and compares findings to those documented by the Baseline Documentation Report.Staff evaluates the status of reserved rights which may have been exercised since the last site visit.Staff assesses impacts to the conservation values associated with changes in land use on the easement property and adjacent properties, notes potential trespass issues and safety hazards, and makes observations on the condition of the boundary and the signage. The staff makes additions to the species list (flora and fauna), documents new findings and communicates with the appropriate government entity. Special attention is given to the evaluation of plant or animal species that may be state or federally listed (endangered, threatened, species of concern, etc.). Staff evaluates conditions in Natural Heritage Areas and inspects significant historical and/or cultural features conserved by the conservation easement.Post monitoring, an archival quality report is generated by the staff and includes written observations and photographs as appropriate; copies of the report are stored on and off site per Conservancy policy.”

“Conservation easements received as a gift are recorded at the estimated change in the market value of the associated property before and after the imposition of the easement. At that time, the Conservancy also records a like amount as an expense since the conservation easements have no future economic benefit to the Conservancy. Donated conservation easements amounted to $423,650 and $1,320,720 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.”

“Special event expense $20179”

“Special event expense $20179”