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5 <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important natural and cultural <br /> resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of Commissioners, and is <br /> a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has partnered with <br /> landowners and other entities to protect 2,244 acres of significant natural areas and prime <br /> farmland with permanent conservation easements. <br /> Over the past several months, DEAPR has worked with Geoffrey and Jane Gledhill and the <br /> Eno River Association on a project to conserve the Gledhill's 30-acre property located across <br /> from their farm at 1319 Carr Store Road (Cedar Grove Township). <br /> The Gledhills intend to grant a permanent conservation easement that restricts future <br /> development, protects forest and water resources, and helps maintain rural character along <br /> this stretch of Carr Store Road located just 1/3 mile from the Cedar Grove Rural Crossroads <br /> Historic District (listed on National Register of Historic Places). <br /> The land is entirely forested and contains a section of Lick Creek and two feeder streams <br /> that drain to the East Fork Eno River and Lake Orange. A conservation easement would <br /> help protect Lake Orange by restricting future land uses on the property that could increase <br /> runoff, sedimentation, and pollution. The easement will prohibit future subdivision and <br /> agricultural uses. Forest stewardship is allowed, but forestry activities will be restricted to areas <br /> outside of wide buffers (up to 300 feet wide) along nearly 6,000 linear feet of streams. <br /> DEAPR Staff and the County Attorney have worked with the Eno River Association and the <br /> landowners to prepare an agreement that meets their needs and the County's interests. <br /> There are no structures on the 30-acre property, but the easement will allow the construction <br /> of a cabin in a designated upland portion of the property. All other development rights will be <br /> extinguished through the conservation easement. DEAPR and Eno River Association staff will <br /> monitor the property on an annual basis. A copy of the draft easement agreement is attached <br /> along with maps showing the property outlined in red. <br /> The planned conservation easement would be held jointly by Orange County and the Eno <br /> River Association. The Eno River Association secured matching funds for this project from <br /> the City of Raleigh's Watershed Protection Program (Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative). <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The easement purchase price is $71,250, which is 75 percent of the <br /> easement value ($95,000) as determined by an appraisal by Kirkland and Associates. The <br /> landowners will donate 25 percent of the easement value ($23,750), meaning they will forgo <br /> that amount and, instead, will be eligible for federal income tax benefits. <br /> DEAPR worked with the Eno River Association to identify the following funding sources: <br /> Orange County (Lands Legacy) $ 34,125 (36%) <br /> City of Raleigh (Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative) 37,125 (39%) <br /> Landowner donation 23,750 (25%) <br /> $ 95,000 <br />