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15 <br /> Lands Legacy Action Plan 2024-27 Adopted xx/xx/24 <br /> Partnerships are of vital importance and have been since the program's inception. Many projects <br /> completed through Lands Legacy are in conjunction with other organizations, such as Eno River <br /> Association, Triangle Land Conservancy, Orange Water and Sewer Authority, Duke University, <br /> and other local governments. The County often uses state and federal matching grant funds to <br /> acquire land or to construct facilities. <br /> The Lands Legacy Program is guided by a three-year Action Plan that sets priorities for <br /> determining what projects to work on over the specified timeframe. The Lands Legacy Action <br /> Plan is prepared by the DEAPR staff and adopted by the Board of Commissioners. Some projects <br /> are long-term efforts that span multiple action plans. <br /> The process of developing the Action Plan begins with staff identifying potential projects and <br /> asking the Board for initial guidance. Staff then meets with pertinent advisory boards for their <br /> input on development of priorities for the upcoming years. <br /> Staff prepares a draft Action Plan and presents it to the Board of Commissioners for their <br /> consideration and feedback. The Action Plan is then finalized for Board approval prior to adoption <br /> of the County's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). <br /> The following is the proposed Action Plan is for the years 2024 through 2027'. Like the <br /> previous action plans, this one focuses on fewer target areas. The reason for limiting the scope <br /> of projects is to allow staff to complete one or more of the larger, multi-year priority projects, <br /> and to recognize that the park sites called for in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan have now <br /> been secured (with one exception). Staff is also adjusting to the reduced availability of state <br /> grant funds to local governments and the elimination of the NC Conservation Tax Credit. The <br /> scaled-back plan will also continue to enable the staff to tend to its land stewardship <br /> responsibilities of properties "land-banked" for future parks and preserves. This is of increased <br /> importance as the program enters its third decade and protection and stewardship of places now <br /> conserved becomes more critical each year. Even so, as with previous Action Plans, the number <br /> and amount of potential strong conservation projects still exceeds available funds. This has been <br /> the case for many years and requires that prioritization among the many worthy projects will be <br /> needed as they move toward completion. <br /> The proposed Action Plan includes current goals and a priority list of land conservation projects <br /> for the coming three years, followed by a summary of advisory board comments, and specific <br /> acquisition objectives. Also attached is a summary of the projects completed through Lands <br /> Legacy over its first 24 years (2000-2024). <br /> Overarching • - • 12027 <br /> 1. Complete Ongoing (Previously Approved) Projects: Complete projects that were <br /> approved by the Board of Commissioners during the previous planning period but have not <br /> yet closed. These include acquisitions that received final Board approval and other projects <br /> that are still being negotiated but have not received final approval for close out. <br /> 2. Site Stewardship: Make sure all properties have boundaries marked in accordance with <br /> the Department's land management policy. Complete management plans for all properties <br /> "land banked"for future public parks and preserves. <br /> 3 <br />