Agenda - 03-22-2012 - 7c - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 '�awn fl� il�� h ��; g - �1994TVYmdkk�Dpea�h March 5,2012 Ms Bemadette Pelissier Chair-Board of Orange County Commissioners P.O.Box 8181 Hillsborough,NC 27278 Dear Bemadette, After our producrive joint meeting,I realized the town had not formally responded,in writing,to the BOCC request to accept a conservation easement on the County-owned properties at 112 and 118 North Churton Street that the County currently has for sale.It was the Town board's intent to address this item at our joint meeting,an intent that was simply overlooked. The Town Board discussed this request at our January regular meeting. Our Board supports and appreciates the County Commissioners'intent to help preserve important resources in downtown Hillsborough.That being said,we are concerned that accepting individual easements on any buildings not owned by the town will cloud the regulatory issues our Historic District Commission(HDC)deals with on a regular basis.Accepting the easements on these two properties may encourage others to make similax donations,further complicating what authority the HDC may be acting under. We concluded that managing such easements would become a source of possible liability and confusion in the long term, and for that reason the Town Board respectfully declines the offer.We encourage the Board of Counry Commissioners to pursue other options available to them(i.e. a restrictive covenant or easement to their own Preservation Commission)ihat may reach similar ends at little to no cost. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the matter. Best regards, �___-- Tom Stevens Mayor � cc Eric Peterson Frank Clifton✓ 101 East Orange Street •P. O. Box 429 •Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 919-732-1270 • Fax 919-644-2390