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2 <br />Following months of negotiations on contract terms and conditions, the Friends of <br />Moorefields has agreed to sell the land to Orange County for $143,000 (or $11,000 /acre), <br />consistent with a market appraisal of the property (Attachment 3). A purchase contract has <br />been signed by the Friends of Moorefields and is provided as Attachment 4. <br />Some of the negotiations addressed the need for a public access easement to the property <br />from Moorefields Road by way of the existing private driveway to the historic site. ERCD <br />Staff and the County Attorney have worked with the landowners to prepare a driveway <br />maintenance agreement that meets their needs and the County's interests. The agreement <br />is based on the model agreement from the Planning Department, but includes an additional <br />provision that any lighting necessary for a future parking area would be screened from the <br />historic house. The County's outdoor lighting standards are referenced in the agreement. <br />A boundary survey of the site is required to complete this transaction. If the Board elects to <br />move forward with this project, ERCD will solicit bids from three firms to perform the survey <br />and to prepare the plat. ERCD estimates that the survey can be completed for less than <br />$6,000. North Carolina General Statute 143, Article 3D allows counties to exempt <br />themselves from a selection process for surveyors if the professional fee is less than <br />$30,000. In order to expedite the survey, it is recommended that the County exempt this <br />project from the more formal selection process and authorize the hiring of a surveyor. <br />A Phase I environmental site assessment would also be conducted prior to closing. If <br />approved, closing on the property would occur on or before December 31, 2009. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The purchase price is $143,500 (or $11,000 per acre), with an <br />additional $6,000 to $8,000 anticipated in closing costs including boundary survey and Phase <br />I site assessment. The total estimated cost is approximately $151,000. Funds would be paid <br />from existing or reimbursable funds from the County's 2001 Parks and Open Space bond <br />(Lands Legacy). Approximately $2.8 million remains from the 2001 bond total. <br />RECOMMENDATIONS: The Manager recommends that the Board: <br />1. Approve the purchase of approximately 13 acres of land located north of Moorefields <br />Road from the Draper- Savage Memorial Foundation; <br />2. Authorize the Chair to sign the contract on behalf of the County, subject to final review <br />by staff and County Attorney; <br />3. Exempt this project from the surveyor selection process as provided in the N.C. <br />General Statute 143, Article 3D; <br />4. Authorize the hiring of a surveyor to complete a boundary survey and plat of the <br />property for recording in conjunction with the transaction in an amount not to exceed <br />$6,000, and authorize the Manager to sign the contract; and <br />5. Instruct the County Attorney and staffs from ERCD and Finance to schedule and <br />complete a closing on the property expected to occur on or about December 31, 2009. <br />