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<br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />To: Michael Harvey, Current Planning Supervisor, Planning and Inspections Dept. <br /> <br />From: Christian Hirni, DEAPR Land Conservation Manager <br /> <br />Date: October 13, 2020 <br /> <br />Re: Beaver Crossing <br /> <br />Thank you the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Beaver Crossing rezoning proposal <br />and draft site plans. The subject property is compiled of three separate parcels (PIN’s 9854-16-1576, <br />9854-36-3711), located west of Hillsborough on the north side of I-40/85 and service road; between Mt. <br />Willing Road and the I-85/US-70 Connector in Efland. Both Parcels drain into two unnamed tributaries <br />that drain south to Seven Mile Creek, which flows directly to the Eno River. <br /> <br />DEAPR comments on subdivisions are generally intended to a) address any concerns with respect to <br />potential impacts on important natural or cultural resources, and b) identify any areas that might be <br />desirable for possible dedication to the County for public recreation/open space pursuant to Section 7.11.5 <br />of the Unified Development Ordinance. <br /> <br />Natural Resources Review Comments: <br />The planned development would set aside areas of open space consisting of protected riparian buffers <br />along the two tributaries, roadside buffers adjacent to the service road, Mt Willing Road, and interstate <br />connector, and adjacent property buffers along all aspects of the property boundaries. <br /> <br />Both parcels have been utilized in active agriculture, primarily beef cattle production, for the known <br />history of ownership. Over half of the total project area is in some stage of early successional forest, <br />having been left to fallow at some point over the last 20-30 years. <br /> <br />On the western and southern borders of the property lie two ephemeral streams that drain into two <br />unnamed tributaries as they flow south. Both of the tributaries drain directly into Seven Mile Creek, part <br />of the Upper Eno watershed, a class WS-II, High Quality Watershed, with Nutrient Sensitive Water <br />designation. The streams lay within the Upper Eno Protected Watershed on the property and the Upper <br />Eno Critical Watershed corridors immediately after leaving the property. The property and the streams <br />mentioned are approximately 1 mile north of the County’s Seven Mile Creek Natural Area and less than <br />½ mile from the Seven Mile Creek Natural Heritage Area as is inventoried in the North Carolina Natural <br />Heritage Program. <br /> <br />Due to the importance of these tributaries to the water quality and species of the Seven Mile Creek <br />watershed, it is in the County’s and the public interest to have the areas around the two tributaries <br />protected as an extension of the site’s open space, and to assist the landowner toward that end. Staff <br />recognizes the site plan submitted shows the developer’s effort to this effect. If the landowners wish the <br />area to remain in private ownership, they could grant a conservation easement to the County. As the <br />easement “grantee” the County would be responsible for monitoring the site at least once each year to <br />make sure that the terms of the easement are not violated. Advance notice would be provided to the <br />landowners before County staff entered the property for easement monitoring. <br />114