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3a ORANGE CAUN i Y ENV[RONNtENT AND ~dESOURCE CON'aERVA'i"fAN OEPART[dIEN i PVIENiORANC3U-l9 To: Eddie Kirk, Orange County Planner From: Ric wand Conservation Manager Date: November 21, 2005 Re: Westhampton Subdivision Proposal Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Westhampton Subdivision, The proposal would create 18 lots on 120.74 acres located adjacent to Phil's Creek south of Hatch Road in Chapel Hill Township, ERCD comments on subdivisions are generally to a) address any concerns with respect to potential impacts on important natural or cultural resources, and b) identify any areas that might be desirable for possible dedication to the County for public recreation/open space pursuant to Section IV-B-7-b of the Orange County Subdivision Ordinance, The current site plan (10/19/05) shows over 49 acres of open space, or 41% of the iZi- acre site (far more than the required 3.3%), The open space includes a 15-acre area of mixed hardwood forest adjacent to Phil's Creek in the southeast corner of the properly. This forest would provide a small wildlife refuge and provide residents of the subdivision with woodlands for walking and nature study, Another section of linear open space is provided along the western property boundary, adjacent to an unnamed tributary of Phil's Creek. Most of that perimeter open space would provide forested buffers of 200-300 feet wide, far more than the required 100-foot stream buffer, Overall, the proposed site plan appears consistent with the County's desire to minimize adverse environmental impacts with respect to the protection of floodplains, wetlands, natural areas and wildlife habitat, Two nearby Orange County-owned properties should be considered in the review of this subdivision proposal, Both were dedicated to the County for recreation and open space. A 0,49-acre strip (0.4 mile long) dedicated to the County in 1992 as part of the Shenandoah subdivision approval for a future public recreational trail, The 10- foot-wide corridor runs through the floodplain portion of four residential lots within the subdivision, The Triangle Land Conservancy holds a conservation easement on the entire floodplain portion of those four lots. A 0,25-acre parcel dedicated to the County in 1988 as part of the Turtledove subdivision approval, That small property is also adjacent to Phil's Creek. The deed states this property was to be part of a "network. of public open space and recreation lands that Orange County intends to establish and of which this land is intended to become a part," Environment and Resource Conservation PO Box Si81 / 306-A Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2590