Agenda - 09-07-2005-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Draft 812910.5 (BOCC) 7 B. The Grantee is a body politic and corporate, a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina, with powers prescribed in Chapter 153A of the North Carolina General Statutes. C. The Easement Area includes contains a natural area that has not been subject to significant development, which provides a "...relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem," as that phrase is used in P.L. 96-541, 26 UCS 170(h)(A)(ii), as amended, and in regulations promulgated thereunder. The Easement Area is adjacent to and would contribute to the protection of a Natural Heritage site identified as "Pickard's Mountain" in the Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats for Orange County, North Carolina., According to the inventory, Pickard's Mountain contains the most expansive stand of chestnut oak forest in Orange County and serves as an important wildlife reservoir and overland link between two stream corridor systems. The Easement Area also contributes to the open space and rural character of this eastern section of Bingham Township and the "Rural Buffer" so classified in the Orange County Comprehensive Plan and located between the towns of Hillsborough to the north and Chapel Hill and Carrboro to the south. It is a further purpose of this Conservation Easement to help to protect the rural character and open space of the Rural Buffer in Bingham Township. The Easement Area also contributes to the water quality of a public water supply. A tributary of Morgan Creek flows through the Easement Area on its way south to University Lake, a water supply reservoir for the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The entire property is within the "University Lake Protected Watershed Overlay District" so classified in the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. The natural habitat of the Grantor's Property and its contribution to the protection of the open space and rural character of Bingham Township and the University Lake Protected Watershed are collectively referred to as the "conservation values" of the Easement Area D. The characteristics of the Easement Area, its current use and state of improvement, are described in a report entitled "Baseline Report on the Dr. Charles Keith Property," dated 2005 (hereafter "the Baseline Report") prepared by Orange County ERCD for the Grantor, of which a summary is attached as Exhibit B to this Conservation Easement The Grantor worked with the Grantee to ensure that the report is a complete and accurate description of the Easement Area as of the date of this Conservation Easement It will be used by the Grantor and Grantee to assure that any fiuture changes in the use of the Easement Area will be consistent with the teens ofthis Conservation Easement. However, the Baseline Report is not intended to preclude the use of other evidence to establish the present condition of the Easement Area if there is a question about its use.