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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): <br />1. Resolution of Approval <br />2. Location Map <br />3. Site Map <br />4. Draft Conservation Easement <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2510 <br />Kim Livingston, 245-2514 <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 />1