Agenda - 10-12-2010 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lands Legacy Action Plan 2010-12 Draft 10/12/10 A. Commission for the Environment (CfE) Continue efforts to protect significant natural areas/wildlife habitat within the Jordan Lake Macrosite (e.g., Mason Farm Oak-Hickory Forest) and Seven Mile Creek area (e.g., Sevenmile Creek Sugar Maple Bottoms); also along the upper reaches of the Eno River, New Hope Creek and Bolin Creek. All county parks and recreation facilities, including the planned Mountains-to-Sea Trail, should be designed to avoid sensitive natural areas and be constructed using environmentally friendly and sustainable methods. B. Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) Continue working with farms interested in protecting prime/active farmland with permanent agricultural conservation easements. Pursue state and federal grant funds to match County funds available for easement purchases. Suggest that the owners of easement farms participate in the local FarmLink program to keep these preserved farm lands in operation. Consider making more of the County's land-banked properties available for agricultural uses. Consider creating a special fund for citizens to make charitable contributions specifically for farmland preservation through the Lands Legacy Program. C. Parks and Recreation Council (PARC) Complete the acquisition of land for a future "White Cross Park" in Bingham Township as recommended in the Master Recreation & Parks Plan. Develop master plans for Seven Mile Creek Preserve and the future Millhouse Road Park. Acquire land and trail easements for an Orange County segment of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail. ERCD and Parks and Recreation staff (now DEAPR) should continue working together to manage County-owned lands. D. Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Continue efforts to acquire conservation easements to protect important cultural and/or archaeological resources, including the Hall's Mill and Faucette Mill complexes, the New Hope Creek corridor (Hollow Rock area), the McGowan Creek corridor (former mill and tobacco plug factory), and the Seven Mile Creek basin (road network and associated structures). Consider acquiring conservation easements that protect scenic/heritage road corridors. Establish an "archaeology emergency fund" for unanticipated costs associated with surveying/protecting historic roadbeds and archaeological sites. The HPC also welcomes the opportunity to participate in the protection of historic structures on County-owned properties and in public outreach programs on the maintenance and weatherization of historic homes/structures. Finally, the HPC would like to participate on any committees formed to plan the design and future use of County sites with historically significant structures. 6 16