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1 <br /> ORD-2016-025 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 21, 2016 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 5-h <br /> SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement for the Captain John S. Pope <br /> Farm; and Approval of Budget Amendment #10-B <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 245-2510 <br /> 2. Location Map Rich Shaw, 245-2514 <br /> 3. Site Map <br /> 4. Draft Conservation Easement <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by Orange <br /> County of an agricultural conservation easement for the Captain John S. Pope farm; and <br /> approve Budget Amendment #10-B. <br /> BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important <br /> natural and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of <br /> Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has <br /> partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,080 acres of prime farmland and <br /> natural areas with conservation easements. <br /> Over the past four years, DEAPR has worked with Robert and Gail Pope and the Eno River <br /> Association on a project to conserve highly significant land and water resources at the <br /> Captain John S. Pope farm located at 6909 Efland-Cedar Grove Road (Cedar Grove <br /> Township). The Popes raise organic tobacco on this farm, which has remained in continuous <br /> operation by the Pope family since at least 1870. <br /> The 73-acre farm is located in the Upper Eno Protected Watershed, a priority watershed for <br /> acquiring agricultural easements in a dual effort to protect prime farmland and drinking water <br /> quality. The farm drains to the West Fork Eno River, which supplies drinking water for the <br /> Town of Hillsborough and customers of the Orange-Alamance Water System. <br /> Robert and Gail Pope intend to grant a permanent conservation easement that will restrict <br /> future development to protect prime farmland and headwater streams, as well as scenic <br /> views of the historic farmstead from Efland-Cedar Grove Road. All non-agricultural <br /> development rights will be extinguished through the conservation easement. The easement <br /> will prohibit future subdivision and allow for no home sites aside from the existing residence <br /> (ca. 1874). A 2.28-acre portion of the property will be excluded from the easement to allow <br /> construction of a future home on the site of Mr. Pope's parents' former residence in the far <br /> southwest corner of the property along Efland-Cedar Grove Road. Future farm activities will <br />