Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> ORD-2017-031 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 12, 2017 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-d <br /> SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement for High Rock Road <br /> Farmland; and Approval of Budget Amendment#4-A <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 245-2510 <br /> 2. Location Map Kim Livingston, 245-2514 <br /> 3. Site Map Rich Shaw, 245-2511 <br /> 4. Draft Conservation Easement <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by Orange <br /> County of an agricultural conservation easement for High Rock Road farmland, and approve <br /> Budget Amendment#4-A. <br /> BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important <br /> natural and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of <br /> Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has <br /> partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,298 acres of significant natural <br /> areas and prime farmland with permanent conservation easements. <br /> Over the past several months, DEAPR has worked with the owner of farmland located on <br /> High Rock Road on a project to conserve a 15-acre property located adjacent to Center <br /> Stream Farm Addition which is under an Orange County agricultural conservation easement <br /> located on High Rick Road (Cedar Grove Township). The owner leases the land to Fickle <br /> Creek Land Company, LLC which raises beef cattle on the property. On November 20, the <br /> Board approved a conservation easement with Fickle Creek LLC on 25 acres of adjacent <br /> farmland. <br /> The 15-acre farm property is located in the Back Creek Protected Watershed, a priority <br /> watershed for acquiring agricultural easements in a dual effort to protect prime farmland and <br /> drinking water quality. The farm drains to Back Creek, which supplies drinking water for the <br /> City of Mebane. <br /> The owner intends to grant a permanent conservation easement that will restrict future <br /> development to protect prime farmland and streams, as well as scenic views of the farmland <br /> from High Rock Road. The easement would allow one future home site in a one-acre <br /> "residential envelope". All other non-agricultural development rights will be extinguished <br /> through the conservation easement. Future farm activities will be in accordance with a <br /> Conservation Plan prepared for the farm by the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District. <br />