RES-2003-060 Resolution - Purchase of Steep Bottom Branch Conservation Easement

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~,~'-~- 2oa3 - 4~G 9 " ~ r ~ 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO PROTECT STEEP BOTTOM BRANCH NATURAL HERITAGE SITE WHEREAS, one of the primary goals of the Orange County Lands Legacy program, established by the Board of County Commissioners in Apri12000, is the protection of identified natural areas that are part of the N.C. Natural Heritage Program, and WHEREAS, Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), a private, non-profit land trust with like conservation goals, acquired 29 acres of the Steep Bottom Branch Natural Heritage site in 1997 to help protect this site, and WHEREAS, in 2001, Judge and Mrs. Stanley Peele began discussions with Triangle Land Conservancy and subsequently Orange County regarding preserving an adjoining 35-acre tract in their ownership that also contained a portion of the Natural Heritage site, and WHEREAS, in 2002, TLC and the County agreed to jointly purchase the Peele property at a bargain sale price, and WHEREAS, TLC and the County agreed to allow TLC to purchase the Peele property in late 2002 with a subsequent conservation easement granted to Orange County to reflect the joint and strengthened protection for this site and the County's participation in the purchase, and WHEREAS, Orange County and TLC have generally agreed on the language of said conservation easement to be granted to the County, which will be executed following the final installment payment for the Peele property, and WHEREAS, the joint acquisition of this property is exemplary of the County's ongoing collaboration and partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy and other conservation organizations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners agree to the future purchase of a conservation easement from Triangle Land Conservancy on 64 acres owned by TLC and known as