Wake County has permanently protected 32 additional farmland acres in the Marks Creek area near Wendell, marking another milestone in the County’s farmland preservation efforts. The easement will keep the property in agricultural use and prevent future development on the land.
“Through a new conservation easement, this project preserves prime farmland while ensuring the land remains protected for future generations,” said Donald Mial, chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners. “This effort reflects Wake County’s commitment to balancing growth with the preservation of our natural and rural resources.”
Located in eastern Wake County, the farm sits adjacent to the Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve, which is a 447-acre public nature preserve owned and managed by Triangle Land Conservancy. About 29 of the farm’s 32 acres are active cropland, and the Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District certified that 94% of the property contains prime farmland soils or soils of statewide importance. The farmer who has long tended this land grows traditional row crops using no-till practices that protect soil health and reduce erosion.
The conservation easement was valued at $671,439. Funding for the project was provided through a partnership that leveraged state, local and private resources. The North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund contributed 70% of the easement value, while Triangle Land Conservancy provided the remaining 30%. Wake County contributed $30,000 from its Deferred Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestlands Tax Program, which dedicates a portion of annual tax revenues to permanently protect farmland through conservation easements. Those funds will be fully reimbursed through the project partnership, resulting in no net cost to Wake County.
The Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold and monitor the easement in perpetuity. The project reflects Wake County’s continued investment in preserving farmland as growth and development continue across the region.
The property also carries deep historical significance. The farm was established in 1775 by Thomas Mial Sr. as Walnut Hill and expanded to nearly 2,700 acres over the following century. The Williamson family managed the land throughout much of the 20th century before selling it at a discount to Triangle Land Conservancy in 2013.
“The Williamson family were huge advocates of using conservation easements for the permanent protection of farmland,” said Triangle Land Conservancy’s Director of Land Protection Leigh Ann Hammerbacher. “We are grateful to Wake County for partnering with us and for helping us honor the Williamson family’s wishes to see this land permanently conserved. The funding TLC received from the sale of the conservation easement will be put into a land management fund for the Williamson Preserve and will help sustain the trail system and farm program.”
The County’s Farmland Preservation Program was established in 2023 after the Board of Commissioners approved the Wake County Farmland Preservation Ordinance.
This action supports Growth, Land Use and Environment Goal 3: Protect 1,000 acres of green space, including open space, parks, greenways, farmland and forests by 2029.
