Agenda 8-l - Hillsborough Area Economic Development District Phase 1 Water and Sewer Extensions - Project Easements and Acquisitions

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need to be processed through legal easement acquisition proceedings. A property owner would still retain ownership of the land. Some use within permanent easements is curtailed, but easements are usually located in areas (lot edges) that cannot be used for structures. Cultural and archeological research has already occurred. The easements are for two purposes - temporary construction and future maintenance access to the sewer lines. The easements do not take up the entire property, only allowing the County’s contractor the right to construct the line and ultimately provide the Town of Hillsborough the right to enter and maintain the sewer lines. All areas disturbed during construction will be reseeded to re-establish vegetation once construction in that area is complete. The attached map shows the entire project area and scope. Compensation is offered during the easement acquisition process. Any easements that must proceed to condemnation will require a deposit with the court of the appraised value of the easement. The County Attorney’s office handles these activities. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The project budget has been previously authorized by BOCC. County staff has offered a standard monetary amount for each easement, based upon an historic percentage of appraised land value. There are eight (8) properties on which easements are required that are owned by six (6) different owners. Total formulaic-projection of easement costs is within the CIP Project 30048 budget for this specific expenditure of $50,000 line item. In the event of condemnation, the County will deposit an amount equal to the standard offer with the Court, upon filing of the condemnation complaint. If the easement acquisition costs exceed the amount set aside, additional funds will be accessed from the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) appropriations. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. Adding water and sewer infrastructure to the Hillsborough Area EDD will result in positive outcomes related to the above Goal. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board: 1. Authorize County Staff to acquire and record the private easements required to construct and maintain the Hillsborough Area Economic Development District (EDD) Phase 1 Water and Sewer Project by negotiation, purchase or condemnation, if necessary; 2. Authorize the payment of easement purchase value to individual property owners, LLC’s, etc.; and 3. Authorize the County Attorney’s office to proceed with legal acquisition of utility easements with court filings, if necessary. 2