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10 R0- aflIa-o0a <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: January 24, 2012 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. g -- Q <br />SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement for the Brooks Farm; and <br />Approval of Budget Amendment #5 -C <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />and Recreation (DEAPR) <br />ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 245 -2510 <br />2. Location Map Rich Shaw, 245 -2514 <br />3. Site Map Gail Hughes, 245 -2753 <br />4. Draft Conservation Easement <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by Orange <br />County of an agricultural and watershed protection conservation easement for the Brooks <br />farm; and approve Budget Amendment #5 -C. <br />BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important <br />natural and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of <br />Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has <br />partnered with landowners to protect 1,875 acres of prime farmland and riparian buffers with <br />conservation easements. <br />Over the past several months, DEAPR has worked with the Eno River Association and the <br />Soil and Water Conservation District on a project to conserve highly significant land and <br />water resources at the Brooks farm. The Brooks farm is located south of Ben Johnston Road <br />west of Hillsborough (Cheeks Township). The farm is owned by Dennis and Linda Brooks, <br />who raise beef cattle and operate the Rocking B Saddle Shop. <br />The 114 -acre farm is located in the critical area of Upper Eno Protected Watershed, a priority <br />watershed for acquiring agricultural easements in a dual effort to protect prime farmland and <br />drinking water quality. Sevenmile Creek and Rocky Run flow through the farm to the nearby <br />Lake Ben Johnston Reservoir — a drinking water intake for the Town of Hillsborough. <br />The Brooks intend to grant a permanent conservation easement that will restrict future <br />development to protect prime farmland and protect scenic views from Ben Johnston Road. <br />The easement would allow two future home sites in two -acre "residential envelopes ". All <br />other non - agricultural development rights will be extinguished through the conservation <br />easement. Future farm activities will be in accordance with a Conservation Plan prepared for <br />the farm by the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District. <br />The planned "agricultural and watershed protection conservation easement" would be held <br />jointly by Orange County and the Eno River Association. The easement would expand and <br />