Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
8 <br /> local governments. With those partnerships, Orange County has been awarded over$6.1 million <br /> in grants for conserving farms and open space, and for park acquisition or construction. <br /> The Lands Legacy Program is directed by the BOCC's adoption of an Action Plan. The proposed <br /> 2024-2027 Action Plan reflects acquisition priorities for the next three years. Action Plan <br /> development is aided by input from advisory boards: <br /> • the Commission for the Environment (for connectivity between natural and protected <br /> areas, natural heritage sites, riparian forest buffers to benefit climate resiliency, cultural <br /> heritage sites, and the Mountains to Sea Trail); <br /> • the Agricultural Preservation Board (for farmland preservation); <br /> • the Historic Preservation Commission (for historic/cultural resources); and <br /> • the Parks and Recreation Council (for parklands, open space/trails, specifically the <br /> Mountains to Sea trail). <br /> This Action Plan comes at a time when staff is mindful of several new developments that will affect <br /> the County's land conservation actions and decisions: <br /> • An improving regional economy —There was an upturn following the Great Recession <br /> (2008-2012), and the COVID Pandemic (2020-2023) provides more conservation <br /> opportunities, but has also resulted in higher land values. <br /> • Increased competition for State and Federal funding — Although state and federal <br /> budgets include funding for land conservation, the amount of grant funds available to local <br /> governments from those state and federal trust funds has been reduced significantly, <br /> along with great competition across the state. Recent federal funding related to the <br /> Infrastructure Plan and other legislative programs may improve these programs <br /> significantly. <br /> • Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan — This plan, presented to the Board at <br /> the March 19, 2024 Business meeting, provides important new data to help guide <br /> conservation connectivity. <br /> • Priorities in the adopted 2030 Parks and Recreation Master Plan — The Action Plan <br /> works to complete the priorities identified in this plan, such as the Mountains to Sea Trail. <br /> • County funding for conservation easements — The BOCC approved a biennial <br /> allocation of $500,000 in the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for conservation easement <br /> purchases. These funds will leverage outside funds from various sources. <br /> Most of the priority focus areas in the 2024-2027 Action Plan are multi-year projects some of <br /> which are continued from previous Action Plans. This has often been the case in prior Action <br /> Plans, as many of projects take considerable time to come to fruition. Afew potential new projects <br /> are offered for the Board's consideration. Details of each are provided on pages 4-5 of the Action <br /> Plan.Among the priorities in this three-year plan are: <br /> • Wildlife and Natural Connection Corridors (especially those outlined in Eno-New Hope <br /> Landscape Conservation Plan) <br /> • Upper Eno and Jordan Lake Headwaters Preserves <br /> • Farmland Conservation Easements <br /> • Historic and Cultural Landmarks (and historic easements) <br /> • Mountains-to-Sea Trail <br /> • Future Bingham Township Park <br /> David Stancil, DEAPR Director, introduced the item and made the following presentation: <br />