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17 <br /> 1 WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this approximately 39 acres would ensure the <br /> 2 preservation of this farmland and stream buffers for future generations and help compensate the <br /> 3 owner for this long-term commitment; <br /> 4 <br /> 5 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does <br /> 6 hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the conservation easement for land owned by <br /> 7 Jane Gledhill; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with Jane <br /> 8 Gledhill, in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final <br /> 9 review by staff and the County Attorney; 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the <br /> 10 easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur on or about September 30, <br /> 11 2019; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation <br /> 12 with the County Attorney. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Jane Gledhill for the civic-minded granting <br /> 15 of this conservation easement through the Lands Legacy Program. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 This the 4th day of June, 2019 <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Jane Gledhill accepted this resolution, and thanked the BOCC. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 22 <br /> 23 e. Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement on Spring Crest Farm and <br /> 24 Approval of Budget Amendment#10-13 <br /> 25 The Board considered voting on a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance <br /> 26 by Orange County of an agricultural conservation easement for Spring Crest Farm, and approve <br /> 27 Budget Amendment#10-B and authorize the Chair to sign. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important natural <br /> 30 and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of <br /> 31 Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has <br /> 32 partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,647 acres of significant natural areas <br /> 33 and prime farmland with permanent conservation easements, leveraging over$3 million in <br /> 34 outside funding and grants toward these easements. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 Over the past year, DEAPR has worked with Kimberly Woods on a project to conserve <br /> 37 approximately 70 acres of Spring Crest Farm located on Pearson Road in Cedar Grove <br /> 38 Township. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 The farm property is located in the Little River Protected Watershed, a priority watershed for <br /> 41 acquiring agricultural easements in a dual effort to protect prime farmland and drinking water <br /> 42 quality. The farm has over 2,000 feet of stream frontage on a tributary of the South Fork Little <br /> 43 River, which supplies drinking water for the City of Durham. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Mrs. Woods intend to grant a permanent conservation easement that will restrict future <br /> 46 development to protect prime farmland and streams, as well as scenic views of the farmland <br /> 47 from Pearson Road. All non-agricultural development rights will be extinguished through the <br /> 48 conservation easement. Future farm activities will be in accordance with a Conservation Plan <br /> 49 prepared for this farm by the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District. <br /> 50 <br />