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7 <br /> <br />#15- Voter registration – most parts of this are accomplished <br />#24 - Bona fide farm use – addressed by Representative Meyer <br />#29 - Agriculture – Support Conservation of Working Lands and Farmland Preservation <br />#34 -Transportation funding <br /> <br />Chair Dorosin suggested that the Board look over the items in the packet, and to add or <br />delete items, and send them to all board members over the next two weeks. He said he and <br />Commissioner Rich will convene the Legislative Issues Working Group to compile a <br />comprehensive list. <br /> <br />ITEM MOVED UP <br />8. Consent Agenda <br /> <br />d. Resolution of Approval – Conservation Easement Amendment for Keith <br />Arboretum <br />The Board considered a resolution to approve an amendment to a conservation <br />easement held by Orange County for the Keith Arboretum now owned by Pickoretum, LLC, and <br />authorizing the Chair to sign. <br />David Stancil, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) <br />Director, reviewed this item, and said this is an amendment to an existing conservation <br />easement. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In September 2005 the Board authorized Orange County’s acceptance of a conservation <br />easement from Dr. Charles Keith. The Keith Arboretum, as it is now known, was purchased by <br />Jeffery Fisher of Pickoretum, LLC. The Keith Arboretum is located at the end of Marion’s Ford <br />Road (off Dairyland Road) in Bingham Township. <br /> <br />The conservation easement helps to protect 45 acres of arboretum consisting of an estimated <br />5,000 different species of plants as well as the undeveloped woodlands, and the Morgan Creek <br />headwater streams located on the property. The conservation easement was completed and <br />recorded on May 19, 2006. <br /> <br />The property is comprised of four adjoining tracts (Attachment 2). The former Keith residence – <br />a restored 1830’s log cabin – and the Arboretum are located on a 19-acre parcel <br />(Tract A). Tracts B, C and D are entirely wooded and undeveloped. Future development <br />rights were relinquished, with the exception of potential walking trails and a potential future <br />visitor/educational center and maintenance buildings for the Arboretum (restricted to Tract <br />A). Tracts B and C were to remain entirely undeveloped. <br /> <br />The owner, Jeff Fisher, initially requested an amendment to the easement that was broad in <br />scope and did not maintain or enhance the conservation values of the property. DEAPR staff <br />has worked with Mr. Fisher to amend the conservation easement to better serve the needs of <br />the arboretum while upholding the original conservation values of the property. <br /> <br />Kim Livingston, Land Conservation Manager, reviewed the following proposed <br />amendments that have been agreed upon by Mr. Fisher and staff: <br /> <br />• Remove the allowance for expanding the existing residence in exchange for allowing <br />the proposed new building footprint to be larger (1,000 square foot to 2,000 square