YRPC Buys River Properties, Protects them and Sells them again

A land protection experiment called BUY-PROTECT-SELL-REPEAT (B-P-S-R) ended successfully for the YRPC . In just 13 months, January 2024-January 2025, YRPC was able to buy 4.8 acres with 380 feet of shoreline along the Yellow River in Washburn County, place legal protection on it, AND regain its investment. The B-P-S-R experiment was launched to test a possible solution to a dilemma faced by many environmental groups: how can a small non-profit with meager financial resources quickly, affordably, and legally protect environmentally valuable properties? With the sale of its first acquisition at a better than break-even price, YRPC feels it may have found one solution to the dilemma and is ready to protect another piece of watershed
property.

Buy-Protect-Sell-Repeat Process

1. Identify a property that is in need of protection, is listed for sale, and buy it.
2. Legally protect the property with a conservation easement or deed restrictions.
3. Regain investment capital by reselling the protected property.
4. Buy another piece of property that is in need of protection and for sale..

Applying a Deed Restriction

YRPC employed a local lawyer to draft a deed restriction that would specify development that could occur on the property (even after changes of ownership) and stand up in court if the need arose. Once written, the deed restriction was reviewed by a second lawyer who is also experienced in deed legality. The deed restriction allows for one minimally intrusive home. It prohibits dividing the property, limits development to one home site, specifies structure size and location, provides substantial setback from the river,
limits the size of an access corridor to the river, sets mowing and tree cutting rules, and more. It’s important to emphasize that writing an air tight deed restriction takes time and legal knowledge. YRPC will share its document with others who are interested in this method of land protection. Deed
restrictions in place, the parcel was listed through a real estate agent and sold in just one week!