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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 15, 2022 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-f <br /> SUBJECT: Amendment to the Persimmon Hill Farm (Bennett/Pelissier) Conservation <br /> Easement <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 919-245-2510 <br /> Persimmon Hill Farm Conservation Christian Hirni, 919-245-2514 <br /> Easement Amendment James Bryan, 919-245-2319 <br /> Exhibit C — Conservation Easement Map <br /> Amendment <br /> Persimmon Hill Farm Conservation <br /> Easement Deed (11-21-18) <br /> Vicinity Map <br /> Site Context Map <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a resolution approving an amendment to a conservation easement held <br /> by Orange County for property owned by Vann Bennett and Bernadette Pelissier (known as <br /> Persimmon Hill Farm). <br /> BACKGROUND: In December 2016, Orange County accepted a permanent conservation <br /> easement for 90.47 acres owned by Vann Bennett and Bernadette Pelissier. The land, known as <br /> Persimmon Hill Farm, is comprised of three adjacent parcels located east of NC Highway 86 North <br /> in Cedar Grove Township, just south of the intersection with Burton Road in northern Orange <br /> County. <br /> Mr. Bennett and Ms. Pelissier granted (donated) a permanent conservation easement to help <br /> protect the valuable prime farmland and natural resources associated with their land, including <br /> over half of the property which is mature hardwood forest located within the South Hyco Creek <br /> Protected Watershed. The forested area helps buffer and protect approximately 6,000 linear feet <br /> of several unnamed stream tributaries, which drain into South Hyco Creek just one mile to the <br /> north. <br /> Mr. Bennett and Ms. Pelissier are interested in constructing a new home on the property, and are <br /> proposing the home be located in a new "Proposed Residential Envelope" on the property. The <br /> current Conservation Easement identified a "Potential Future Home Site Area", totaling 6.4 acres, <br /> located over two active and productive agriculture fields with a stream through the center, which <br /> would require buffering. Totaling 2.06 acres, the new "Proposed Residential Envelope" would <br />