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19 <br /> WHEREAS, Kimberly Woods, the owner of the Spring Crest Farm property, wishes to grant a <br /> permanent conservation easement to Orange County, which will protect the prime farmland and <br /> riparian corridors that exist on the property; and <br /> WHEREAS, a conservation easement on this approximately 70 acres would ensure the <br /> preservation of this farmland and stream buffers for future generations and help compensate the <br /> owner for this long-term commitment; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does <br /> hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the conservation easement for land owned by <br /> Kimberly Woods; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with <br /> Kimberly Woods, in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to <br /> final review by staff and the County Attorney; 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the <br /> easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur on or about September 30, <br /> 2019; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation <br /> with the County Attorney. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Kimberly Woods for her civic-minded <br /> granting of this conservation easement through the Lands Legacy Program. <br /> This the 4th day of June, 2019. <br /> f. Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement on Holden-Roberts Farm and <br /> Approval of Budget Amendment#10-C <br /> The Board considered voting on a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by <br /> Orange County of an agricultural conservation easement for Holden-Roberts Farm, and approve <br /> Budget Amendment#10-C and authorize the Chair to sign. <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 2,647 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 Nels and Nancy Anderson on a project to <br /> conserve approximately 57 acres of Holden-Roberts Farm located on St. Mary's Road in Eno <br /> Township. <br /> The farm property is located in the Lower Eno 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 over 2,500 feet of stream frontage on tributaries to Buckwater Creek, a <br /> major tributary of the Eno River, which supply drinking water for the City of Raleigh. The <br /> Andersons intend 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 St. Mary's Road. All non-agricultural development rights will be extinguished through the <br /> conservation easement. Future farm activities will be in accordance with a Conservation Plan <br /> prepared for this farm by the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District. <br />