Orange County NC Website
held. In 2001-2002, a series of meetings were held with elected officials and staff, and the <br />group adapted a resolution that 18 acres of the 104 should be earmarked for future affordable <br />housing purposes, and 86 acres should remain as open space protected by conservation <br />easements. There was same discussion about how the formal recording of the conservation <br />easement by all three jurisdictions would become the triggering mechanism for the <br />reimbursement to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund based on the proportional shares of <br />ownership of the property. <br />One consideration is when the conservation easements are implemented, that the <br />reimbursement could be made to the fund over some period of time or as a lump sum. The <br />landfill will reach capacity in 2010, so the County will have to move to a transfer station <br />operation by then and the reimbursement would help a lot in this operation. Since 2005, the <br />staff has had conversations with representatives of the Triangle Land Conservancy about their <br />potential interest in holding 4t" party conservation easements on the 86 acres. TLC also <br />expressed interest in having the County's 60 acres also being placed into conservation. The <br />formal position being taken by the board of directors of TLC is that it supports TLC's <br />participation in the Greene Tract transaction conditional upon the parties placing conservation <br />easements on the jointly owned parcel or agree to give up development rights to the parcels. <br />Secondly, Orange County is to agree to place its contiguous parcel into conservation either <br />through an easement or through enrollment into the Land's Legacy program. Finally, that the <br />government entities cover all the transaction and stewardship costs related to maintaining those <br />86 acres in open space under conservation easements. <br />Mayor Chilton asked far an update from Chapel Hill an the small area planning process. <br />Bill Strom said that he is a council representative an the Greene TractlRogers Road <br />Small Area Planning effort, and they have been working with staff and maps. This group is <br />trying to set dates to meet with representatives from each jurisdiction that will be involved in the <br />process. He said that the Greene Tract/Rogers Road SAP group should have a plan for the <br />area in close to a year. <br />Mayor Foy said that the major issue for Chapel Hill and Carrboro is money and they <br />should try to have a plan by budget time if they are going to do anything this fiscal year. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the Board of Commissioners wanted to raise the flag, but the <br />Managers have talked about payment over a number of years. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the triggering mechanism and Bill Strom said that <br />having certainty about the 60 acres is very important in planning the 18 acres for affordable <br />hauling. He spoke for himself and said that in 2002 they agreed on the 104 acres, but also the <br />County Commissioners expressed a preference to preserve the 60 acres. <br />Commissioner Carey wants to know who has responsibility for payback to the enterprise <br />fund. Rod Visser said that the interlocal agreement is silent on the point of exactly when the <br />reimbursement would take place. His view is that all three boards could amend the agreement <br />to be specific an the payback period. <br />Jaal Hall Broun suggested amending the agreement to be clear about the triggering <br />mechanism. She is mare interested in the affordable housing component. <br />Chair Jacobs suggested waiting until after the solid waste plan discussions in October <br />when there will be mare definite numbers on fulfilling that plan. Regarding the 60 acres, the <br />staff has proposed a Lands Legacy Land Trust. This would be a cast savings and would not <br />involve another partner. The Board of Commissioners has not had this discussion yet. The <br />parties can keep working on this and there is another AOG meeting in February. <br />Mayor Foy emphasized that athree-year payback period would be too hard for them and <br />a five-year payback period would be significant. He encouraged everyone to make a <br />commitment to start paying back the fund this year. <br />Chair Jacobs pointed out that right around the time that this agreement was made, the <br />Governor sequestered local funds and everyone was having trouble paying far things. He <br />