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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 21, 2022 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-j <br /> SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Amendment to the Iski (Panthers Branch) <br /> Conservation Easement <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR), <br /> County Attorney <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 919-245-2510 <br /> Iski Conservation Easement Amendment Christian Hirni, 919-245-2514 <br /> Vicinity Map James Bryan, 919-245-2319 <br /> Site Map <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a resolution approving an amendment to a conservation easement held <br /> by Orange County for property owned by the Eno River Association for the purpose of relocating <br /> a planned parking area. <br /> BACKGROUND: In November 2018 Orange County accepted a permanent conservation <br /> easement for 56.29 acres owned by the Eno River Association. The land is comprised of two <br /> adjacent parcels located north of Lebanon Road (Cheeks Township), which contains and protects <br /> approximately 6,000 linear feet of the Eno River, Panthers Branch, and one unnamed tributary. <br /> The Eno River Association granted the County a permanent conservation easement as part of <br /> the acquisition process for what would become the "Panthers Branch Nature Preserve". The <br /> materials from May 1, 2018 Board of Commissioners meeting, including the original recorded <br /> conservation easement deed can be accessed at: <br /> (http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/weblink/0/doc/52245/Page1.aspx). The acquisition was <br /> coordinated through the former Clean Water Management Trust Fund (now the NC Land and <br /> Water Fund) to help protect the Eno River and its tributaries, as well as natural and forested areas <br /> on site. <br /> The Eno River Association is in the process of designing and developing an access road and <br /> parking area to allow for the public to enjoy the nature preserve. In the process of planning and <br /> design, the contractor communicated the inability to proceed as the designated area for the <br /> access road and parking were inadequate for the needs, and would require adding fill to the <br /> floodplain of the unnamed tributary. This would not be permissible per the original easement <br /> language and would have negative effects on the identified "conservation values" of the property <br />