Orange County NC Website
The only historical area that is recommended in this year's action plan is the Faucette <br /> Mill area, which is along Eno River. Chatwood is a landmark there. This is an area for potential <br /> protection. Rich Shaw said that he met with some of the landowners in this area about potential <br /> conservation easements. This corridor has a lot of potential for protection. <br /> The next category is riparian buffers. Orange County jointly applied for funds from the <br /> State, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, to try and put some permanent protection on <br /> the riparian buffer along the Eno River and down into Seven Mile Creek. The request was for <br /> $1 million with a $300,000 match from the County. <br /> He made reference to the Adams Tract and turned it over to David Stancil. David Stancil <br /> said that this property is about 29 acres in the heart of Carrboro. The Town of Carrboro made a <br /> request that the County participate and help to provide matching funds for a grant application <br /> that they had submitted to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. This has been <br /> supplemented with another request asking that the County consider using the monies that were <br /> identified for Carrboro greenways in the 2001 bond referendum towards the purpose of <br /> acquiring this site for open space and greenways. A memo from David Stancil is included that <br /> outlines the site. There are two possible ways of addressing this acquisition. One would be to <br /> agree to provide for monies in the bond sales in this current fiscal year. Currently, $400,000 <br /> has been identified for greenways bonds. One option would be to utilize this and future years' <br /> funding toward the $750,000 maximum to be appropriated with the understanding that the Town <br /> would match any remaining amounts of the purchase of the property. The second approach <br /> would be to provide some of the acquisition costs, but ask the Town to repay 50% of the <br /> County's match over a period of time. The property was appraised at $1.35 million. Also, part <br /> of the Bolin Creek Natural Area occurs on the northern third of the property. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked about a connector road. David Stancil said that there has been talk <br /> in the past about a connector road through the property. In looking at the Town's most recent <br /> request, they are proposing to use the property for open space protection and greenways. <br /> Commissioner Brown made reference to the Adams Tract and said that it was her <br /> understanding that the greenway has always been slated to go along the OWASA easement. <br /> She is confused as to why Carrboro would say it could be on the other side. <br /> David Stancil said that he asked Carrboro how firm the line was and they indicated that it <br /> was just a line on a map at this point and could be moved. <br /> Commissioner Brown said that it was not a line on a map because this OWASA <br /> easement is being used heavily as a greenway right now. Also, she thought that the bond <br /> money was specifically to be used for the construction of greenways. She does not remember <br /> what was told to the public exactly. She thinks that this should go out to public hearing before <br /> using the greenway bond for this. She does not want to mislead the public. <br /> Commissioner Carey suggested not having a public hearing until an opinion from the <br /> County Attorney is received about the language in the bond referendum. He thinks Carrboro <br /> also admits that their request is for open space and not completely for greenways. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked about the ownership of the property. David Stancil said that <br /> the party that is not the owner would hold the conservation easement. One stipulation of the <br /> County's participation could be a conservation easement on the site that prohibits other <br /> activities other than what has been mentioned in the most recent request from Carrboro. <br /> John Link said that one question is whether the Adams Tract is worth preserving. If so, <br /> under what conditions is the County willing to participate in the acquisition? He would be <br /> surprised if the language in the bond referendum prevents the County from doing this. The <br /> language for the bonds is very general. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that this property is definitely worth preserving. He would like <br /> to hear other options of financing this piece besides bond money. He thinks Carrboro should <br /> put something into it too. <br />