(a) Establishment. There is a program to finance the purchase of easements.
(b) Agreement.
(1) The County Executive shall determine the methods of paying landowners for easements, and the appropriate terms and conditions for any agreement to purchase an easement in accordance with the requirements set forth in this subtitle or in other applicable provisions of law.
(2) The County may provide for the payment for easements by the execution and delivery of long-term obligations of the County, including long-term obligations in the form of installment purchase agreements for deferred payment of the purchase price.
(3) The execution and delivery of any such long-term obligations shall be authorized by ordinance, which shall prescribe the security for form, manner of execution, delivery, and sale, if applicable, the maturity and the other terms and conditions of such long-term obligations or, in each case, the manner of determining the same. The final maturity of such long-term obligations may not exceed 30 years.
(c) Payment. Payment for easements may be made from dedicated transfer tax revenues that are appropriated as provided under § 4-11-111 of this Code; from any other legally available appropriated funds or revenues; and as provided in subsection (b)(2).
(d) Termination and release.
(1) Subject to subsection (d)(2), an easement purchased by the County shall be given by the landowner in perpetuity and may not be terminated by the landowner, and may not be extinguished by the County without approval of the County Council.
(2) Except for an easement purchased under an installment purchase agreement and subject to the provisions of Article 18 of this Code, a landowner may have one 40,000 square foot lot released from an easement.
(1985 Code, Art. 24, § 2-205) (Bill No. 45-90; Bill No. 79-94; Bill No. 56-99; Bill No. 4-05)