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2 <br />Creek property to Orange County for conservation purposes. This past December, the <br />Pennys also donated a conservation easement on the remaining 29 acres that they continue <br />to own in Durham County. That land includes their long-time residence and another historic <br />structure located east of Pickett Road. <br />The Pennys continue to own 7 acres of land in Orange County, which is adjacent to the <br />County's New Hope Preserve on one side and another 29 acres of that the Pennys own <br />across the line in Durham County. The 7 acres is undeveloped and there are no structures. <br />The Pennys wish to protect the seven acres with a permanent conservation easement. <br />ERCD staff and the County Attorney have worked with the Pennys to craft an easement that <br />meets their needs and the County's interests. Future development rights would be <br />relinquished, with the exception of being able to use an existing open field for agricultural <br />purposes. No buildings or structures would be allowed on the property. <br />The conservation easement would help to protect the adjacent Orange County-owned lands <br />acquired for future public trails and wildlife habitat, and would increase the protected lands in <br />this Orange County section of the New Hope Creek Corridor from 100 acres to 107 acres. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Pennys intend to "donate" the conservation easement to Orange <br />County. The County would pay an estimated $3,500 in transaction costs (including boundary <br />survey), which would be paid from the Lands Legacy Opportunities Fund. The Budget Office <br />will bring a Capital Project Ordinance forward in an upcoming budget amendment abstract. <br />The Environment and Resource Conservation Department (ERCD) would monitor the <br />property on an annual basis and help to enforce the development restrictions. <br />RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the resolution <br />approving the acceptance by Orange County of the conservation easement and authorize the <br />Chair and the Clerk to sign the conservation easement agreement, subject to final review by <br />staff and the County Attorney.