Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
37 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date : March 24 , 2003 Action Agen a <br /> Item No . '� <br /> SUBJECT : Pro osed Land Donation from The Nature Conservancy <br /> DEPARTMENT : ERCD <br /> PUBLIC HEARING : {YIN III <br /> iiiiiiiiiiiii MEMO NINE <br /> ) No <br /> ATTACHMENTS } : INFORMATION CONTACT : <br /> Location Map David Stanch , ext 2590 <br /> Rich Shaw , ext 2591 <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERSIN <br /> : <br /> Hillsborough 732 = 8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968 -4501 <br /> Durham 688 =7331 <br /> Mebane 336 -227 =2031 <br /> PURPOSE : To consider accepting the donation of a 10 - acre tract in Cedar Grove Township <br /> from The Nature Conservancy for future protection as a County nature preserve through the <br /> Lands Legacy Program . <br /> BACKGROUND : The Nature Conservancy (TNC ) , a private non - profit land trust with a North <br /> IN <br /> Carolina Chapter office in Durham , acquired a 10 - acre tract in 1986 to protect a portion of <br /> natural area in Cedar Grove Township . The natural area , known as Allison Road He <br /> artleaf <br /> Ravine , is one of four documented sites in Orange County for Lewis heartleaf , a rare plant <br /> endemic to North Carolina and Virginia . The 15- acre site was identified in the Inventory of <br /> Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat for Orange County ( Sather and Hall , 1988 ) . <br /> TNC does not have the resources to manage small sites of this kind and is interested in <br /> The transfer would include a deed restriction that <br /> conveying the property to Orange County , <br /> ensures protection for conservation . TNC would work with the County Attorney to determine <br /> appropriate language to include in the deed . <br /> The Lands Legacy Program , adopted in April 2000 , was established to identify and protect the <br /> important natural and cultural resources in Orange County . ERCD collaborates IF with y <br /> conservation partners , including The Nature Conservancy , to further the protectionmany <br /> of known <br /> ith TNC that Orange County is in a better position to monitor and manage <br /> sites . ERCD agrees w <br /> this site , which is located 8 miles from its Hillsborough office . <br /> The Commission for the Environment considered this potential land transfer and recommends <br /> that the County accept the property donation . The Commission includes volunteer biologists <br /> that work with the ERCD staff to monitor County natural areas and make recommendations for <br /> their conservation and stewardship . <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT : The anticipated cost to acquire the property is approximately $ 4 , 000 for <br /> transaction costs , including survey and closing costs . County funds for this transaction would <br />