Minutes 08-21-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager with the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) stated that Mr. Thompson could not be present. However, Mr. Thompson's attorney, Andrew Brannon, was present. Mr. Shaw told the Board Orange County is collaborating with other property owners to complete an agricultural conservation easement on the Thompson farm. The Thompson farm is 57 acres and is located in the northwestern part of Orange County in the Cedar Grove community on Allie Mae Road. He displayed an aerial view of the property. This showed a variety of crop land and impoundments used to raise fresh water prawns. Mr. Shaw displayed a photograph of Joe Thompson who was recognized as Small Farmer of the Year two years ago. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Agricultural Preservation Board and his farm is enrolled in the voluntary agricultural district program. For 20 years, he and his wife, Geraldine, raised tobacco on this farm but have converted the farm to raise fresh water prawns and have been very successful. Mr. Shaw displayed various photo views of the farm, some of the infrastructure. The Thompsons not only raise the prawns, they also grow the ingredient for the feeds that go into the prawns. He displayed additional photos of the property and a photo of Mr. Thompson giving a tour of the facility during one of the recent agricultural summits Orange County holds each year. Mr. Shaw also displayed a photograph of a prawn. Mr. Shaw showed the Board the site plan showing the 40 acres (outlined in red) that would be part of the conservation easement. The heart of the farm is going to be affected by this permanent conservation easement. The site plan also showed the different prawn ponds on the western side of the property adjacent to the flood plains of Back Creek. Most of the yellow area shown was crop land and open area associated with the growing of feed for the prawns. The tan or brown areas are excluded from the conservation easement. Mr. Shaw explained this is a perpetual conservation easement. The landowners retain the right to privacy, the rights to farm, and the rights to construct agricultural buildings to support their enterprises. There is one existing residence on the property which may be maintained and enlarged on the same site but there's no future subdivision allowed on this property. It is to be retained for agricultural purposes. There are some areas excluded from the easement that could be used for other uses, non-agricultural or otherwise, but they're not affected by this action. There are a number of funding partners for this project although Orange County will not be the holder of this easement. This is unusual compared to some of the other lands brought before the Board through the Land's Legacy Program. They did apply for grant funds from both state and federal agencies they normally work with on conservation easements and were turned down. The Black Family Land Trust was successful, however, so they've been working with them, with Mr. Thompson, and with the granting agencies like the USDA and the North Carolina Agriculture Farm Land Development and Trust Fund. Orange County is playing a secondary role. Because they're proposing to invest some money, the County will hold some interest in the property by virtue of being a backup easement holder. Mr. Shaw explained that should the Black Family Land Trust ever cease to exist, or if they could no longer fulfill the role as an easement holder monitoring and overseeing this conservation easement, Orange County is listed in the conservation easement as a potential backup holder. Because of this, there is a portion of the easement the County would sign off on. The following is the PowerPoint presentation by Mr. Shaw: Agricultural Conservation Easement Thompson Farm Orange County Legacy Program Black Family Land Trust NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services US Department of Agriculture Site Plan of Thompson Conservation Easement Conservation Easement