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9 <br /> (1) the Orange County Board of Commissioners' goal (adopted June 21, 1999)to <br /> identify and coordinate the preservation of the County's most significant natural areas; and <br /> (2) the Land Use Element of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan(adopted <br /> November 18, 2008)with its goal of"Land uses that are appropriate to on-site environmental <br /> conditions and features, and that protect natural resources, cultural resources, and community <br /> character;" <br /> (3) the protection of similar Orange County properties designed to protect <br /> conservation and open space values through conservation easements granted to the Grantee and <br /> others in the vicinity of the Grantors' Property; and <br /> (4) Article 17 of the North Carolina General Statutes NCGS 113A-24, entitled <br /> Conservation, Farmland and Open Space Protection and Coordination, otherwise known as the <br /> "Million Acre Initiative,"which provides that the State of North Carolina shall encourage, <br /> facilitate,plan, coordinate, and support appropriate federal, State, local, and private land <br /> protection efforts so that an additional one million acres of farmland, open space and <br /> conservation lands in the State are permanently protected by December 31, 2009; and <br /> (5) the Clean Water Management Trust Fund,North Carolina General Statute <br /> 113-145.1 et seq., which recognizes the importance of protecting riparian buffers in conserving <br /> clean surface water; and <br /> (6) the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act, authorized by NCGS § 139-1, <br /> et seq., which provides for the preservation of farm, forest and grazing lands; and <br /> (7) the special present use value assessment of farm and forestland as set forth in <br /> NCGS § 105-277.2 et seq., which allows for lower property tax rates for land enrolled in active <br /> agricultural uses. <br /> The natural resources and natural habitat of the Grantors' Property, and its contribution to <br /> the protection of the natural, open space, and rural character of northern Orange County are <br /> collectively referred to as the "Conservation Values" of the Property. <br /> D. The characteristics of the Property, its current use and state of improvement, are <br /> depicted on an Orange County GIS map and sketch of the Property and other adjoining property <br /> of Grantors prepared by Grantee for the Grantor, which is attached as Exhibit A to this <br /> Conservation Easement and incorporated herein by reference. The Grantors worked with the <br /> Grantee to ensure that the GIS map and sketch is a complete and accurate description of the <br /> Property as of the date of this Conservation Easement. It will be used by the Grantors and <br /> Grantee to assure that any future changes in the use of the Property will be consistent with the <br /> terms of this Conservation Easement. However, the GIS map and sketch is not intended to <br /> preclude the use of other evidence to establish the present condition of the Property if there is a <br /> controversy over its use. The Grantors and Grantee have copies of Exhibit A. The original of <br /> Page 3 of 17 <br />