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<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 4, 2000 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. g- I <br />_SUBJECT: Farmland,_Preservation Trust Fund Grant Application <br />DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Farmland Preservation Trust Fund David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968.501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To authorize staff to submit a grant application to the N.C. Farmland Preservation <br />Trust Fund. <br />BACKGROUND: The Farmland Preservation Trust Fund is one of three State trust funds for <br />land preservation. The Farmland Trust Fund is administered by the Conservation Trust for N.C. <br />on behalf of the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and this year has $1.7 million to disburse. The <br />deadline for grant submittal is December 10, 2000. <br />The Trust Fund provides funds to local governments and non-profits for the acquisition and <br />transaction costs of purchasing conservation easements for farmland. A requirement for grant <br />submittal is a written agreement from a willing seller stating their intent to sell an easement if <br />terms are worked out. <br />A farmland easement pilot project is also one of the objectives for the 2000-01 Lands Legacy <br />Interim Action Plan. In 1999, the County discussed a possible easement with a farmer for <br />potential inclusion in this program, but was unable to reach agreement in time for grant <br />submittal. This year, another farmer has indicated interest in selling the County an easement on <br />70 acres, and the potential seller is prepared to sign the required letter of intent. The grant <br />funds will enable the County to pursue the purchase. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: In order for the County to be eligible for grant funding, it must provide a <br />50 percent match. The total expected cost of the easement is $315,000, with $108,000 from <br />the County and $107,000 requested from the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Funding far <br />the County match is included in the Lands Legacy capital project. To date, $371,452 in pay-as- <br />you-go funding has been approved and remains unallocated in the Lands Legacy project. If the <br />Board approves the grant submission and County match, $263,452 will remain unallocated in <br />the project. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize staff to submit <br />the grant request, in accordance with the December 10 deadline. <br />