Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORD -2017 -028 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 20, 2017 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 8 -e <br />SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement for Center Stream Farm <br />Addition; and Approval of Budget Amendment #3 -A <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br />and Recreation ( DEAPR) <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />1. Resolution of Approval <br />2. Location Map <br />3. Site Map <br />4. Draft Conservation Easement <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245 -2510 <br />Kim Livingston, 245 -2514 <br />Rich Shaw, 245 -2511 <br />1 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by Orange <br />County of an agricultural conservation easement for the Center Stream Farm addition, and <br />approve Budget Amendment #3 -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 2,273 acres of significant natural <br />areas and prime farmland with permanent conservation easements. <br />Over the past several months, DEAPR has worked with Fickle Creek Land Company, LLC on <br />a project to conserve a 25 -acre property, consisting of two adjoining parcels, located <br />adjacent to Center Stream Farm which is under an Orange County agricultural conservation <br />easement located on High Rick Road (Cedar Grove Township). Fickle Creek Land <br />Company, LLC raises beef cattle and free -range chickens on the property. <br />The 25 -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 />Fickle Creek Land Company, LLC intends to grant a permanent conservation easement that <br />will restrict future development to protect prime farmland and streams, as well as scenic <br />views of the farmland from High Rock Road. The easement would allow one future home site <br />in a one -acre "residential envelope." All other non - agricultural development rights will be <br />extinguished through the conservation easement. Future farm activities will be in accordance <br />with a Conservation Plan prepared for this farm by the Orange Soil & Water Conservation <br />District. <br />