Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORD-2018-036 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 11, 2018 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-c <br /> SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement on Walker Farm and Approval <br /> of Budget Amendment #4-A <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 245-2510 <br /> 2. Location Map Kim Livingston, 245-2514 <br /> 3. Site Map <br /> 4. Draft Conservation Easement <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by Orange <br /> County of an agricultural conservation easement for the Walker Farm, and approve Budget <br /> Amendment #4-A. <br /> BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important natural <br /> and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of <br /> Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has <br /> partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,385 acres of significant natural areas <br /> and prime farmland with permanent conservation easements, leveraging over $3 million in <br /> outside funding and grants toward these easements. <br /> Over the past several years, DEAPR has worked with Norman Walker on a project to conserve <br /> 77-acre of his 87-acre farm property located on Guess Road in Little River Township. <br /> The farm property is located in the Little River Protected Watershed, a priority watershed for <br /> acquiring agricultural easements in a dual effort to protect prime farmland and drinking water <br /> quality. The farm has nearly 5,000 feet of stream frontage on the North Fork Little River and a <br /> tributary, which supply drinking water for the City of Durham. <br /> Norman C. Walker intends to grant a permanent conservation easement that will restrict future <br /> development to protect prime farmland and streams, as well as scenic views of the farmland <br /> from Guess Road and Sneed Road. All non-agricultural development rights will be extinguished <br /> through the conservation easement. Future farm activities will be in accordance with a <br /> Conservation Plan prepared for this farm by the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District. <br />