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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 17, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ,5~ <br />SUBJECT: Resolution for Acceptance of Grant for Proposed Scenic Easement Project <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Conservation (ERCD) <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proposed Resolution <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Rich Shaw. 245-2591 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a resolution for the acceptance of $141,269 from the <br />North Carolina Department of Transportation's Enhancement Program for acquisition of a <br />scenic conservation easement along a portion of St. Mary's Road in Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: In June 2002, Orange County submitted a grant application to the North <br />Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) requesting federal matching funds from <br />the Transportation Enhancement Program for a pilot project to acquire a scenic easement <br />along a portion of the historic St, Mary Road corridor. The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro <br />(DCHC) Metropolitan Planning Organization endorsed the application. <br />Orange County was notified in February 2003 that its application was selected far funding. <br />However, delays in the State's administration of the grant resulted in the County only <br />recently receiving the paperwork necessary to pursue the project. NCDOT requires that <br />the County execute an agreement with NCDOT for the use $141,269 in federal funds from <br />the Transportation Enhancement Program for the purchase the proposed conservation <br />easement. A draft resolution authorizing the agreement is attached. <br />Orange County, through its Lands Legacy Program, would identify landowners who are <br />interested in conveying a scenic easement that would preserve the view along a portion of <br />the historic St. Mary's Road corridor. The top candidates would be considered by the <br />Board of Commissioners before selecting the location for pursuing an easement. The pilot <br />project would be the first scenic easement acquired through the Lands Legacy Program <br />and the first such easement in Orange County. <br />