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100 ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF' ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE, PARKS AND RECREATION MEMORANDUM To: Glenn Bowles, Current Planning From: Rich Shaw, DEAPR Land Conservation Manager Date: ;' January 7, 2013 Subject: Proposed Annandale at Creek Wood Subdivision Thank you for the opportunity to evaluate a Preliminary Plat for the proposed Annandale at Creek Wood subdivision. The plat identifies 11 lots on 36.46 acres located north of Whitfield Road, just east of the intersection of Whitfield Road and NC 86 (Chapel Hill Township). My comments are based on a review of DEAPR's comprehensive resource database and an examination of the Site Plan (dated 8/24/12). As presented, the plan would set aside 12.15 acres of open space (33.3 %). The subject property is entirely forested with fairly mature tree cover considered to be high-quality forest for wildlife habitat'. Within the forest there are two steams that flow through the site and into the neighboring Duke Forest property. The streams drain into Old Field Creek and eventually to New Hope Creek. The property is located immediately south of the Henry J. Oosting Natural Area—a highly significant natural heritage areal (SNHA) owned and managed by Duke University. This unit of Duke Forest is protected for research and education, and is not open for public use. The property also borders on the Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, owned and managed by the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC). The 296-acre preserve protects land on New Hope Creek and features 3.5 miles of public hiking trails accessed from Mt. Sinai and Turkey Farm roads. The proposed Open Space includes 80-foot-wide stream buffers that would help protect water quality and aquatic habitat on this property and the downstream Oosting Natural Area. The remaining Open Space wraps around the western and southern property boundaries. I would prefer to have the Open Space along the northern and eastern boundaries to help buffer the adjacent Duke and TLC natural areas, but if that's not feasible the large lot sizes (2 acres plus) may help lessen any potential adverse effects of the residential development (e.g., encroachment, informal trail connections) on those conservation lands. The plan includes a 50-foot-wide pedestrian open space area (POSA) leading to the Johnston Mill Nature Preserve. There should be no trail be constructed in the POSA until TLC is ready to accommodate pedestrians entering the Preserve at this location. Conclusion -The large lot size and 80-foot stream buffers will help protect surface waters and riparian habitat, and the overall 33% open space will help 1 Rating Land in Orange County by its Wildlife Value(Triangle Land Conservancy, 1999) 2 Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats for Orange County,NC(Sather et al.,2004) Environment,Agriculture, Parks and Recreation PO Box 8181/306-A Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919)245-2510