Agenda - 03-13-2007-5n - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 13, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. 5- n SUBJECT: Grant Application for Haw River Access DEPARTMENT: Recreation & Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Grant Application Site Map (within application) Email from the Chair INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Taft, 245-2660 David Stancil, 245-2590 Rich Shaw, 245-2591 PURPOSE: To confirm the application submitted by the Chair on behalf of the Board for a 2007 National Recreational Trails Program Grant application to gain funds for the acquisition of land for a public canoe access area along the Haw River. BACKGROUND: In March of 2006, Orange County entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with other jurisdictions to work jointly on the Haw River Access Trail. At the time, a portion of the Haw River was being accessed through private property along Old Greensboro Road. The bridge crossing at Old Greensboro Rd .is along the identified Haw River Trail corridor and also within a section of the primary route for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. In February of 2007, a member of the Environment and Resource Conservation, Department (ERCD) staff met with landowners and found they may be interested in either selling property or developing a land use agreement so that Orange County could manage canoe access to the Haw River in Orange County. Orange County has the opportunity to submit a National Recreational Trails Program Grant application for the intentions of requesting money for this land purchase or land use agreement. The grant would require that Orange County pay for land purchase or the price of the land use agreement and be reimbursed once the transaction is complete. If the grant is awarded, Orange County will be reimbursed 80% of the cost, not to exceed $75,000. The State Trails Program has placed this particular project, for the Haw River Trail Access, at the top of its list of priorities for allocation of funds. The Trails Grant Coordinator specifically requested that the County apply for these funds. The deadline for submittal of this application was February 28, 2007. In order to meet this deadline, the Chair signed the application in advance of full Board consideration.