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RES-2018-084 Attachment 1 4 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION <br /> Approval of Conservation Easement <br /> between <br /> Orange County and the Eno River Association <br /> and <br /> Norman C. Walker <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County has adopted goals that promote the preservation of natural <br /> areas, wildlife habitat, prime farmland, and open space in the county; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County established the Lands Legacy Program for the purpose of <br /> protecting the most significant natural and cultural resources through partnerships with <br /> landowners and other conservation entities; and <br /> WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation <br /> easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Walker Farm property includes approximately 77 acres in the Little River <br /> protected watershed, consisting of a majority of prime agricultural soils, and includes 5,000 <br /> linear feet of the North Fork Little River and one of its tributaries that drain to the Little River <br /> Reservoir—a drinking water supply reservoir for the City of Durham; and <br /> WHEREAS, Norman C. Walker, the owner of the Walker Farm property, wishes to grant a <br /> permanent conservation easement to Orange County and the Eno River Association, which <br /> will protect the prime farmland and riparian corridors that exist on the property; and <br /> WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this approximately 77 acres would ensure the <br /> preservation of this farmland and stream buffers for future generations and help compensate <br /> the owner for this long-term commitment; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the conservation easement for land <br /> owned by Norman C. Walker; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement <br /> agreement with Norman Walker, in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement <br /> agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; 3) authorize the Chair <br /> and the Clerk to sign the easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur <br /> on or about June 30, 2019; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing <br /> documents upon consultation with the County Attorney. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Mr. Norman C. Walker for his civic- <br /> minded granting of this conservation easement through the Lands Legacy Program. <br /> This the 11th day of December, 2018. <br /> Penny Rich, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board <br />