Agenda - 03-31-2008-4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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At the February meeting County staff was also asked to draft a set of guiding principles and parameters for enacting the conservation easements. Conceptually these guiding principles and parameters could apply equally to the 85.9 jointly held acres and the 60 acres held solely the County. In working through this issue in anticipation of discussion at or before the Assembly of Governments meeting, County staff was advised and has received an opinion from the County Attorney to the BOCC of the need for the County and Towns to specifically address changing the designation of the 60 acre parcel since there is nothing in the Agreement or the Amendment that provides for reimbursement to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund in the event the 60 acre parcel is not used for landfill system purposes. In recent months, discussions have been held with Triangle Land Conservancy about holding the conservation easement(s) and the likely parameters and nature of the easements. This includes sharing the new ideas about a potential school site and recreational fields in conjunction with the affordable housing area. TLC remains interested in holding the easement(s) on the open space lands, and will use fature site planning discussions and efforts to develop a stewardship endowment request to the local governments (to address long -term management costs). A copy of the March 14 2008 letter from the County Attorney, the draft uig ding principles and parameters for the conservation easements and the Inter Local Agreement and Amendment are attached. Further Direction Requested This update is presented as background to the discussion and further direction by the elected officials of the three jurisdictions to County and Town management at the Assembly of Governments meeting on March 31 sc As outlined, a reimbursement scenario inclusive of the County held 60 acres has already been circulated. However, another potential amendment to the Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement would alter these funding shares. A possible school site, without foreclosing affordable housing opportunities, has met with favorable preliminary reviews. Guiding principles and parameters for the conservation easements are submitted here in draft form. The County Attorney has advised that the Inter Local Agreement may be amended as required to reflect any changes in policy direction the three jurisdictions may wish to make: The elected bodies of the three jurisdictions are requested to give guidance and feedback to their staff on next steps in implementing a recommended concept plan for joint ownership and reimbursement, in recognition of implications for the existing Inter Local Agreement.