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{ <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 24, 2003 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Proposed Land Donation from The Nature Conservancy <br />DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Location Map <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, ext 2590 <br />Rich Shaw, ext 2591 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732 -8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968 -4501 <br />Durham 688 -7331 <br />Mebane 336- 227 -2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider accepting the donation of a 10 -acre tract in Cedar Grove Township <br />from The Nature Conservancy for future protection as a County nature preserve through the <br />Lands Legacy Program. <br />BACKGROUND: The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a private non - profit land trust with a North <br />Carolina Chapter office in Durham, acquired a 10 -acre tract in 1986 to protect a portion of a <br />natural area in Cedar Grove Township. The natural area, known as Allison Road Heartleaf <br />Ravine, is one of four documented sites in Orange County for Lewis' heartleaf, a rare plant <br />endemic to North Carolina and Virginia. The 15 -acre site was identified in the Inventory of <br />Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat for Orange County (Sather and Hall, 1988). <br />TNC does not have the resources to manage small sites of this kind and is interested in <br />conveying the property to Orange County. The transfer would include a deed restriction that <br />ensures protection for conservation. TNC would work with the County Attorney to determine <br />appropriate language to include in the deed. <br />The Lands Legacy Program, adopted in April 2000, was established to identify and protect the <br />important natural and cultural resources in Orange County. ERCD collaborates with many <br />conservation partners, including The Nature Conservancy, to further the protection of known <br />sites. ERCD agrees with TNC that Orange County is in a better position to monitor and manage <br />this site, which is located 8 miles from its Hillsborough office. <br />The Commission for the Environment considered this potential land transfer and recommends <br />that the County accept the property donation. The Commission includes volunteer biologists <br />that work with the ERCD staff to monitor County natural areas and make recommendations for <br />their conservation and stewardship. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The anticipated cost to acquire the property is approximately $4,000 for <br />transaction costs, including survey and closing costs. County funds for this transaction would <br />