Orange County NC Website
RES-2016-073 PIF�/ 5--,1d` <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION <br /> Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between <br /> Orange County <br /> and <br /> Vann Bennett and Bernadette Pelissier <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County has adopted goals that promote the preservation of natural <br /> areas, wildlife habitat, prime farmland, and open space in the county; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County established the Lands Legacy Program for the purpose of <br /> protecting the most significant natural and cultural resources through partnerships with <br /> landowners and other conservation entities; and <br /> WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation <br /> easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Persimmon Hill Farm includes approximately 90 acres in the South Hyco <br /> Creek protected watershed, consists of a majority of prime agricultural soils, and is located in <br /> an agricultural community with good access to farm markets; and <br /> WHEREAS, Vann Bennett and Bernadette Pelissier, the owners of Persimmon Hill Farm, <br /> wish to donate a permanent conservation easement to Orange County, which will protect the <br /> prime farmland and forested riparian corridors on the property; and <br /> WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this approximately 90 acres would ensure the <br /> preservation of this farmland for future generations; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural conservation easement to <br /> land owned by Vann Bennett and Bernadette Pelissier; 2) approve the execution of this <br /> conservation easement agreement with Vann Bennett and Bernadette Pelissier, in <br /> accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by <br /> staff and the County Attorney; 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the easement <br /> agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur on or about December 15, 2016; <br /> and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation with <br /> the County Attorney. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Mr. Bennett and Ms. Pelissier for their <br /> civic-minded donation of this conservation easement through the Lands Legacy Program. <br /> This the 5th day of December, 2016. <br /> Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> Donna B ker, Oerk We Board <br />