Easements

How does your trail easement benefit you?

Your deeded trail easement will:

  • Give you the right to ride miles of permanently protected trails in the system.
  • Give you the right to apply for CETA membership.
  • Likely enhance your property value.  Creating trails creates “waterfront property”.
  • Enrich your lifestyle by providing you additional recreational opportunities.
  • Allow you reciprocal FETA membership at reduced cost.
  • Provide you future riding opportunities as the trail system expands.
  • Make a lasting contribution to your community’s quality of life.
  • Earn you the thanks and goodwill of your neighbors.

How does your trail easement benefit the community?

A deeded trail system will:

  • Protect a fragile system in perpetuity.
  • Help maintain open space and the rural character of our beautiful area.
  • Preserve cultural traditions and community identity of the area.
  • Encourage compatible growth such as small farms, which promotes low population density.
  • Protect the economic stability of our rural community.
  • Preserve and enhance the natural environment, including wildlife habitats and other natural resources.
  • Offer a low-impact method for enjoying the beauty of the area.
  • Improve riding opportunities for our equestrian neighbors.
  • Ensure the future of equine recreational activities in your area.
  • Encourage a healthy, outdoor lifestyle.

Outline of the Easement Process:

  1. A CETA Trail Preservation Committee member will meet with you, bringing a copy of the deed and plat for your property.
  2. Terms of the easement will be discussed and clarified, addressing any concerns you may have.  The easement language may be modified to address unusual circumstances, if any.
  3. With the Committee member, your designated ingress and egress points will be marked on the plat, and a brief description drafted.
  4. The Committee member will then draft your easement deed.
  5. The Committee member will return the easement deed to you to be signed and notarized.
  6. The Committee member will then have the easement deed recorded and a copy will be returned to you.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. What are the requirements for establishing permanent trails?  Trail ingress and egress points must be contiguous with those on neighboring properties to ensure integrity of trail system.  Trails must be located on terrain suitable for riding and/or driving and be at least 8 feet wide.
  2. What if I want to change the location of my trail after I’ve granted the easement?  Trail route may be changed with CETA’s agreement, as long as ingress and egress remain the same.
  3. My property includes several parcels.  How will that affect the process?  A separate easement is needed for each separately recorded piece of property.  Your trail must be linked with the existing system.
  4. What will it cost?  CETA will assume financial responsibility for both legal work and recording for honorary members (non-riding landowners) who want to be part of the permanent trail system.
  5. What does trail maintenance include?  While most riding landowners or neighborhood groups handle basic maintenance on their own trails, CETA’s trail maintenance committee can be approached for assistance with special situations.  CETA’s trail maintenance committee assists honorary (non-riding) members with keeping their trails open and accessible.
  6. Are there liability implications?  North Carolina has two liability statutes to protect landowners who provide opportunities for equestrian activities.  Also, all CETA members sign an annual waiver.
  7. Who else has done this?  Over 100 farms are under permanent easement.
  8. What impact will putting an easement on my land have when I want to sell my property in the future?  Local realtors will tell you that guaranteed access to an equestrian trail system increases the value of property in this area.
  9.  How extensive is the CETA trail system now?  There are nearly 100 members and landowners located in the Old Collinsville Farm District, centered on Collinsville Road and Landrum Road.