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1 <br /> ORD-2019-011 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 19, 2019 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-f <br /> SUBJECT: Approval to Purchase Real Property — Knight Property, and Approval of Budget <br /> Amendment #7-A <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Option to Purchase David Stancil, 245-2510 <br /> 2. Location Map Kim Livingston, 245-2514 <br /> 3. Site Map <br /> PURPOSE: To authorize Orange County's purchase of approximately 13 acres of land on NC <br /> 54 near Mebane Oaks Road from Eric Knight, owner of Steel String Brewery, for a NC <br /> Mountains-to-Sea Trail corridor and trailhead or "hub," and approve Budget Amendment #7-A. <br /> BACKGROUND: In September 2017, the Board of County Commissioners approved the <br /> proposed route for the NC Mountains-to-Sea (MST) from Hillsborough's Riverwalk to the land <br /> around the Cane Creek Reservoir to the Alamance County line. The property owned by Eric <br /> Knight falls within the proposed route. <br /> Eric Knight and the County have signed an Option to Purchase for Orange County to purchase <br /> a 13-acre trail corridor and parking area contingent upon the Board of Commissioners approving <br /> the acquisition. The ownership of this property would eliminate the need for the trail to follow <br /> Highway 54, creating a safer trail route from the OWASA-owned land to Morrow Mill Road or <br /> Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road. It would also provide a potential MST trailhead or "hub," <br /> with a small parking area and restroom facilities accessible from Highway 54 for MST hikers. <br /> Steel String Brewery has an interest in creating a new estate brewery on its property outside of <br /> the MST corridor, highlighting ingredients grown on site and providing a unique agritourism and <br /> recreational experience for visitors. This MST "hub" could serve as the MST "gateway" to <br /> Orange County from the south, illustrating the County's commitment to local agricultural, <br /> recreation, and community. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The purchase price is approximately $130,000 ($10,000/acre with final <br /> acreage determined by certified survey), which is 100 percent of the land value as determined <br /> by a certified appraisal. <br />