Agenda - 12-09-2003-8a - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 1 D. G. Martin, Interim Executive Director for Triangle Land Conservancy, made some 2 comments. He thanked the Board of County Commissioners and Kate Dixon, He is an Orange 3 County resident. He thanked the staff and said that the partnerships that have been cultivated 4 under Kate Dixon have inspired him, He looks forward to a continuing partnership with Orange 5 County in the future, 6 Kate Dixon thanked the Board, She said that she most enjoyed the partnership with 7 Orange County, 8 9 b. Resolution -Purchase of Steep Bottom Branch Conservation Easement 10 The Board considered a resolution for the purchase of a conservation easement on 11 84 acres of an identified Natural Heritage site owned by Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), as 12 part of the County's partnership with TLC on this project; authorize the County Attorney and 13 staff to purchase the conservation easement at a cost of $83,700, with the expedited transfer of 14 funds prior to December 31, 2003, submitting the final easement approval to the Board in early I S 2004. 16 Rich Shaw with ERCD said that this is an important natural heritage site with the 17 New Hope Creek Watershed. It is located west of Old NC 86 and just north of the intersection 18 of Arthur Minnis Road and New Hope Church Road. The TLC owns two adjoining tracts totaling 19 64.7 acres -one that TLC has owned since 1997, and the other that TLC purchased recently 20 from Judge Stanley Peele and Mrs. Carolyn Peele. Orange County and TLC decided to share 21 the cost of purchasing the Peele tract with the County's share totaling a little over $89,000. 22 Since that time, an opportunity has arisen to expedite the installment payments, lowering the 23 County's cost to $83,700. For simplicity and consistency of ownership, TLC agreed to own the 24 property and convey a conservation easement to the County, The two tracts together will be 25 known as the Steep Bottom Branch Preserve. 26 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to 27 approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution as stated below, authorize the County 28 Attorney and staff to purchase the conservation easement of 64 acres owned by the Triangle 29 Land Conservancy at a cost of $83,700, with the expedited transfer of funds prior to December 30 31, 2003. The final easement will be submitted for official Board approval in early 2004, 31 32 RESOLUTION FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO PROTECT 33 STEEP BOTTOM BRANCH NATURAL HERITAGE SITE 34 35 WHEREAS, one of the primary goals of the Orange County Lands Legacy program, established 36 by the Board of County Commissioners in April 2000, is the protection of identified natural areas 37 that are part of the N.C. Natural Heritage Program, and 38 39 WHEREAS, Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), a private, non-profit land trust with like 40 conservation goals, acquired 29 acres of the Steep Bottom Branch Natural Heritage site in 1997 41 to help protect this site, and 42 4.3 WHEREAS, in 2001, Judge and Mrs, Stanley Peele began discussions with Triangle Land 44 Conservancy and subsequently Orange County regarding preserving an adjoining 35-acre tract 45 in their ownership that also contained a portion of the Natural Heritage site, and 46 47 WHEREAS, in 2002, TLC and the County agreed to jointly purchase the Peele property at a 48 bargain sale price, and 49