Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 15, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~ ~ - q <br />SUBJECT: Interim Stewardship Plan for Blackwood Farm <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Conservation <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1) Location Map <br />2) Interim Stewardship Plan (draft) <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Rich Shaw, 245-2590 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 6$8-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a draft plan for the County's ongoing care and maintenance of <br />Blackwood Farm during the interim period prior to park development. <br />BACKGROUND: Orange County purchased a 152-acre property from the Blackwood family <br />in December 2001, The former farm is located at the intersection of NC 86 and New Hope <br />Church Road, near the I-40 interchange with New Hope Church Road, <br />The intended use of the property, as indicated at the time of acquisiticn, is for a future <br />County park with a "low-impact" orientation, The property is being "land banked" until such <br />time that the Board approves a design process to develop a master plan for the future use of <br />the property. The specific nature of the park has yet to be determined, although it has been <br />assumed that the park will take advantage of the significant historic, agricultural, and natural <br />resources found on the site, <br />Since acquisition of the Blackwood Farm, several actions have been taken to care far the <br />property in the areas of security, grounds keeping, farmstead building maintenance and <br />improvements, and to accommodate limited interim use of the property. This Interim <br />Stewardship Plan serves to address these activities, both current and proposed in the next <br />few years. <br />ERCD has prepared a draft Interim Stewardship Plan for the Board's consideration and <br />feedback, The plan provides details about the care for and use of the property during the <br />period prior to the County's ultimate use as a public park, ERCD has been assisted by the <br />