Orange County NC Website
7 <br /> greenways had been acquired as 100-foot easements, Orange <br /> County government would become the largest landowner in the <br /> county with land in excess of 5, 000 acres. He noted the fear <br /> that Orange County government would also become the landowner <br /> of all the water in Orange County. He continued, that with <br /> regulations such as those in force now, the land will be <br /> taken by a type of forced condemnation with no compensation. <br /> He expressed the concern that the county would be owner of <br /> small pieces of land all over the county with no means of <br /> maintenance and patrolling and no means of "tying into" any <br /> kind of system. He stated he felt the best thing to do at <br /> this point would be to "scrap" the plan and "write-off" the <br /> funds already expended. <br /> Commissioner Hartwell stated that he is constantly hearing <br /> that the County is going to "condemn and take" land and asked <br /> the Recreation & Parks Director, Mary Anne Black, if that <br /> statement has been made or written anywhere in the Plan. Ms . <br /> Black responded that it has not been mentioned and is not in <br /> the plan. Commissioner Hartwell expressed concern that so <br /> many citizens seem to believe that condemnation of land will <br /> take place in order to have land for greenways . He continued <br /> by asking Mr. Latta where the information came from <br /> regarding condemnation. Mr. Latta responded that the <br /> Subdivision Regulations require a dedication of land for <br /> recreation and he felt that was a "taking of private land <br /> without compensation" . Ms. Black responded that the <br /> Subdivision Regulations, in a major subdivision, does require <br /> the dedication of land for recreation/open space or payment- <br /> in-lieu. Commissioner Hartwell continued that he would like <br /> for everyone to understand the means by which the County <br /> intends to acquire land for greenways . Ms . Black listed <br /> methods of acquiring land for greenways and parks landowners for <br /> contained in the Plan as donations by p r <br /> parks, through continued private ownership and allowing <br /> easements across that property for a trail, through <br /> designation of private property for conservation easements <br /> which would also allow for <br /> recreational activities or the out-and-out acquisition by the <br /> County of that property. <br /> A citizen asked about the power of eminent domain. <br /> Chair Marshall state tht it place sine Board <br /> themost <br /> policy that <br /> dire conditions for public safety. <br /> Geoffrey Gledhill, County Attorney, _stated that the Plan <br /> being presented does not contemplate that land would be taken <br /> through the exercise of eminent domain. He pconttinuedhthatas <br /> the only time that the County would obtain property <br />