Agenda - 02-15-2011 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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scaling back on new acquisitions in order to address to its ever increasing responsibilities for the lands acquired and "land-banked" for future parks and preserves. The following are some common themes for the approach to this Plan: • Focus on the stewardship of existing conservation properties • Acknowledge many long-term conservation needs exist, but recognize short-term financial constraints • Complete the projects already underway • Shift the program's emphasis to conserving significant natural areas Some projects listed in the 2010-12 Action Plan are already familiar to the Board, while other projects are multi-year projects repeated from previous Action Plans. Details of each project are provided on pages 4-5 of the Action Plan. • Bingham Township Park • Seven Mile Creek Preserve / Mountains-to-Sea Trail • Jordan Lake Macrosite • Upper Eno Riparian Buffers • Halls Mill and Faucette Mill Historic Sites • Stewardship of Existing Properties • Upper Bolin Creek Corridor • Farmland Conservation Easements Finally, along with this Action Plan, DEAPR plans to embark on a public outreach effort to follow-up on the 10-year anniversary. Attachment 6 is a proposal to identify the Top 10 Natural and Cultural Sites in Orange County. The purpose is to help people recognize some of the special places in Orange County -places that are truly unique and help give the County its identity. Last year, Land for Tomorrow, a coalition that supports the preservation of North Carolina's land and water resources, completed a similar effort that identified "North Carolina's Ten Natural Wonders." The draft Lands Legacy Action Plan was presented to the Board at the October 12, 2010 work session. Staff received favorable comments on the plan itself and further direction in a number of related areas: 1) provide a list of Lands Legacy sites that are now open for public access, 2) provide more details about the available funding sources (allocated versus unallocated), and 3) respond to the Board's interest in updating the 1988 Parks and Recreation master plan (in house /low cost). * Minor edits have been made to the Action Plan, most noteworthy the removal of two tiers of priority for the different sites on Pages 3-5 of the document. * Attachment 4 (Funding Sources) has been revised as requested by the Board. * Attachment 5 identifies which Lands Legacy sites are open for public use. A follow-up report on plans for interim public access at future park sites is scheduled for Board consideration in March. Finally, a staff proposal for updating the 1988 Parks and Recreation master plan has been scheduled for Board consideration and discussion at a future work session.