Village releases easement

The Forsyth Village Board has vacated a conservation easement on 200 feet of land west of Stevens Creek and north of County Highway 20. The land was donated to the Village in 1999 by Decatur resident Dr. William R. Martin. The Board’s decision is related to and comes prior to the anticipated annexation of 150 acres known as the Martin farm, purchased by developer Steve Horve to create a new subdivision. The Village’s easement was within the acreage purchased by Horve.

“There was no money exchanged [between Horve and the Village],” said Mayor Hap Gilbert. He said the conservation easement had been “...considered greenspace.” Gilbert said Horve will need to dedicate area for a park in the new subdivision before his plans come before the Plan Commission for approval.

“The conservation easement on the east side [of Stevens Creek] will remain intact, and we’ll deal with it in the future,” Gilert said. “Eventually there could be a monetary consideration when we work on a park dedication [for that area].”

The yet unnamed subdivision will sit on 75 of the 150 acres, with work planned to begin after fall harvest. Fifty-two lots between one to two acres in size are planned for phase one.