Agenda - 10-18-2016 - 7-c - Designation of the “Headwaters Nature Preserve” and Approval of Budget Amendment #2-A

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1 ORD-2016-036 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 18, 2016 Action Agenda Item No. 7-c SUBJECT: Designation of the "Headwaters Nature Preserve" and Approval of Budget Amendment #2-A DEPARTMENT: County Manager, Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Context Map - Headwaters Preserve Bonnie Hammersley, 245-2300 2. Resolution David Stancil, 245-2510 3. Map of Natural Features Rich Shaw, 245-2514 PURPOSE: To officially designate a 60-acre parcel of land owned by the County as open space and low-impact recreation within the County's Lands Legacy Program, reimburse the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund for the acquisition of the land, and approve Budget Amendment #2-A. BACKGROUND: In 1998, the Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement provided for the transfer of a 60.0-acre parcel of land formerly part of the jointly-owned Greene Tract (held in common by the County, the Town of Chapel Hill and the Town of Carrboro) as part of the transfer of Solid Waste activities to Orange County from the Landfill Owners Group. This land (see Attachment 1) is located south of Eubanks Road, north of Chapel Hill, and was identified by the County and then subdivided from the Greene Tract after an investigation of the natural and cultural resources of the site and the potential for other County interests and uses. The official transfer of the land ownership occurred on February 19, 2003. On several occasions over the past 15 years, discussion has arisen regarding the ultimate plans for the County's 60-acres. In response to a request about plans for the to-be- designated County 60 acre tract, a March 24, 2000 letter from then-Board of Commissioners Chair Moses Carey, Jr. to the mayors of Chapel Hill and Carrboro including the following language about this 60-acre area: `This area was selected after considerable discussion and review of site characteristics, and offers an opportunity to preserve important hardwood forest areas on this tract while also providing for possible rail line access to the southeast. It is the intent of the current Board of Commissioners that this sixty acres remain undisturbed.' While many other discussions have taken place over the intervening years, no statement of intent or further plan for the County's 60 acres has been adopted. (A link to historical information on the Greene Tract that was provided on September 8 may be found here - http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/weblink8/0/doc/42513/Pagel.aspx.)