Orange County NC Website
~~ <br />greenways had been acquired as ].00-foot easements, Orange <br />County government would become the largest landowner in the <br />county with land in excess of 5,000 acres. He noted the fear <br />that Orange County government would also become the. landowner <br />of all the water in Orange County. He continued, that with <br />regulations such as those in force now, the land will be <br />taken by a type of forced condemnation with no compensation. <br />He expressed the concern that the county would be owner of <br />small pieces of land all over the county with no means of <br />maintenance and. patrolling and no means of "tying into" any <br />kind of system. He stated he felt the best thing to do at <br />this point would be to "scrap" the plan and "write-off" the <br />funds already expended. <br />Commissioner Hartwell stated that he is constantly hearing <br />that the County is going to "condemn and take" land and asked <br />the Recreation & Parks Director, Mary Anne Hlack, if that <br />statement has been made or written anywhere in the Plan. Ms. <br />Black responded that it has not been mentioned and is not in <br />the plan. Commissioner xartwell expressed concern that so <br />many citizens seem to believe that condemnation of land will <br />take place in order to have land far greenways. He continued <br />by asking Mr. Latta where the information came from <br />regarding condemnation. Mr. Latta responded that the <br />Subdivision Regulations require a dedication of land for <br />recreation and he felt that was a "taking of private land <br />without compensation". Ms. Black responded that the <br />Subdivision Regulations, in a major subdivision, does require <br />the dedication of land far recreation/open space or payment- <br />in-lieu. Commissioner Hartwell continued that he would like <br />far everyone to understand the means by which the County <br />intends to acquire land for greenways. Ms. Black listed <br />methods of acquiring land for greenways and parks as <br />captained in the Plan as donations by private landowners for <br />parks, through continued private ownership and allowing <br />easements across that property far a trail, through <br />designation of private property for conservation easements <br />which would also allow for <br />recreational activities or the out-and-out acquisition by the <br />County of that property. <br />A citizen asked about the power of eminent domain. <br />Chair Marshall stated that it is and has always been Board <br />policy that condemnation would only take place in the most <br />dire conditions for public safety. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill, County Attorney, stated that the Plan <br />being presented does not contemplate that land would be taken <br />through the exercise of eminent domain. He continued that <br />the only time that the County would obtain property that haS <br />