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2 • Stoney Creek flows in a northeasterly direction through the area bounded by the Concept Plans. Approximately 130 acres along the creek and its tributaries consist of floodplain, wetlands, natural areas, and steep slopes. These features are located generally in a wildlife corridor designated in the Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats. In addition, five sites have been identified as part of the Orange County historic inventory. These features were considered extensively as part of the University Station Planning Group initiative (see attached descriptions and maps). They are currently under consideration by the Stoney Creek Basin Planning Group (see attached vicinity map and Planning Group chronology). For the purpose of this report, the features have been combined into a composite overlay to show their relationship to the approved Concept Plans (see attached composite map). • The Master Recreation and Parks Plan proposes a community park in the vicinity of New Hope Church Road and NC 10. The minimum size needed for such a park is 25 acres, and the average service radius is 1 -2 miles. Such parks generally serve several neighborhoods, providing active recreation opportunities such baseball and softball, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and jogging. A water body is a component typically located in a community park as well as natural areas for passive activities such as picnicking and hiking (see attached Master Plan and schematic diagram of Community Park). The Concept Plan approval for each of the subdivisions containing area along Stoney Creek includes a condition that floodplain, wetlands, and other natural areas be preserved. The approvals did not address the issue of parkland dedication or payment -in -lieu of dedication. Normally, the size of a subdivision is not sufficient to require dedication of land. However, in the case of a single, unified development, or, in the case of several contiguous subdivisions, parkland dedication rather than payment -in -lieu would be considered. Options to Address Resource Protection Although the Concept Plans are contiguous and interconnecting, the land included in the Concept Plans is in separate ownership, and each tract may be developed independently of the others. As noted previously, each Preliminary Plan must provide protection for the natural resources along Stoney Creek. There are several options which may be used to accomplish this goal, including the following: • Inclusion of the natural features within the boundaries of individual lots, with protection provided through recordation of a conservation easement held by Orange County, a non -profit land conservancy or a homeowners association. The boundaries of the conservation easement would be set to include those features warranting protection. The easement agreement would contain provisions to insure protection of the resources and would be enforced by the holder of the easement. • Creation of a separate parcel which includes those features warranting protection, with dedication of the land to Orange County, a non - profit land conservancy or a homeowners association. • Some combination of the above such as a situation where a separate parcel is