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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 7, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No.?a <br />SUBJECT: Resolution for Purchase of Conservation Easement- Dr. Charles Keith <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Conservation <br />ATTACHMENT <br />Draft Resolution <br />Vicinity Map <br />Property Map <br />Draft Conservation Easement <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Rich Shaw. 245-2591 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution approving the purchase of a conservation easement for <br />land owned by Dr. Charles Keith to protect natural area and open space associated with <br />Pickard's Mountain and Morgan Creek (Bingham Township). <br />BACKGROUND: The Lands Legacy Program works with landowners and other conservation <br />partners to protect the County's most important natural and cultural resources. Through this <br />program, the County uses a variety of voluntary means to protect lands, including fee-simple <br />acquisition, acceptance of land donations, and the purchase or donation of conservation <br />easements. The types of protected land include parkland, natural areas and wildlife habitat, <br />riparian buffers, prime farmland, and historic and cultural sites. Orange County has <br />protected 1,579 acres since the inception of Lands Legacy (April 2000). <br />Dr. Charles Keith owns 81 acres at the end of Marion's Ford Road (off Dairyland Road) in <br />Bingham Township. Formerly farmland owned by the Lloyd family, Dr. Keith and his wife <br />Barbara (deceased) acquired the land in 1963. A vicinity map is provided as Attachment 2.. <br />Beginning in early 1980s, the Keiths planted a remarkable variety of trees and shrubs from <br />around the country and other parts of the world. Today, it is said to be one of the largest <br />arboretums east of the Mississippi River, with an estimated 5,000 different species. Dr. Keith <br />hosts visitors from around the country to tour his collection. Visitors are intrigued by the large <br />variety of trees and by the fact that no pesticides are used on the property. The only <br />herbicide in use is Roundup for controlling grass around the base of trees.