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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: January 23, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-j <br /> SUBJECT: Lands Legacy Action Plan for 2014-2017 <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> Parks and Recreation <br /> (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Lands Legacy Program Overview David Stancil, 919-245-2510 <br /> Annual Action Plan (2014-2017) Rich Shaw, 919-245-2514 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider adoption of the Lands Legacy Action Plan for the three-year period <br /> (July 2014 — June 2017). <br /> BACKGROUND: The Board of Commissioners established the Lands Legacy Program in <br /> 2000. Through this program, Orange County seeks to protect its most critical natural and <br /> cultural resources through a variety of voluntary means. Over the first 12 years of the <br /> program, Orange County acquired land for seven new parks, conserved 16 active farms <br /> (1,700 acres), and protected nearly 600 acres of natural open space in the Eno River, Cane <br /> Creek, Little River, and New Hope Creek watersheds. Over that period the County helped <br /> other partners protect an additional 1,544 acres of sensitive resource lands. <br /> Most projects are accomplished in partnership with other conservation entities, including the <br /> Triangle Land Conservancy, Orange Water & Sewer Authority, Eno River Association, the <br /> Orange NRCS/Soil & Water office, State and federal trust funds, and adjoining local <br /> governments. With those partnerships, Orange County has been awarded over $5 million in <br /> grants for park acquisition or construction and for conserving farms and open space. <br /> The Lands Legacy Program is directed by the BOCC's adoption of an Action Plan. The <br /> proposed 2014-17 Action Plan reflects acquisition priorities for the three-year period <br /> beginning July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2017. Action Plan development is aided by <br /> input from citizen advisory boards — Commission for the Environment (for natural areas, <br /> prime forest, riparian buffers, and open space/trails); Agricultural Preservation Board (for <br /> farmland preservation); Historic Preservation Board (for historic/cultural resources); and the <br /> Parks and Recreation Council (for parklands, open space/trails). <br /> This Action Plan comes at a time when staff is mindful of several new developments that will <br /> affect the County's land conservation actions and decisions: <br />