Orange County NC Website
7 <br /> the general public, namely, the views along Arthur Minnis Road(State Road 1115) southwest of <br /> Hillsborough. It is a secondary purpose of this Conservation Easement to protect these natural, <br /> wildlife habitat, and scenic resources. <br /> The agricultural resources of the Grantors' Property, and its contribution to the protection <br /> of the public drinking water supply and the natural and scenic resources of the area, and the rural <br /> character of the area, are collectively referred to as the "conservation values" of the Property. <br /> The specific conservation values of the Property and its current use and state of <br /> improvement are described in a Baseline Report prepared by the Grantee with the cooperation of <br /> the Grantors, and acknowledged by both parties to be accurate as of the date of this Conservation <br /> Easement. This Report may be used by the Grantee to document any future changes in the use or <br /> character of the Property in order to ensure the terms and conditions of this Conservation <br /> Easement are fulfilled. This Report, however, is not intended to preclude the use of other <br /> evidence to establish the present condition of the Property if there is a controversy over its use. <br /> The Grantors and Grantee have copies of this Report, and said report will remain on file at the <br /> office of the Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Department. <br /> The Grantors and Grantee agree that the current agricultural use of, and improvements to, <br /> the Property are consistent with the conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement. <br /> The Grantors intend that the conservation values of the Property be preserved and <br /> maintained, and further, Grantors intend to convey to Grantee the right to preserve and protect <br /> the agricultural and other conservation values of the Property in perpetuity. <br /> The conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement are recognized by, and the <br /> grant of this Conservation Easement will serve, the following clearly delineated governmental <br /> conservation policies: <br /> (1)North Carolina General Statute 139-2 et seq., which provides that"it is hereby <br /> declared ...that the farm, forest and grazing lands of the State of North Carolina are among the <br /> basic assets of the State and the preservation of these lands is necessary to protect and promote <br /> the health, safety and general welfare of its people... it is hereby declared to be the policy of the <br /> legislature to provide for the conservation of the soil and resources of this State;" <br /> (2)North Carolina General Statute 106-583 et seq.,which states that"It is declared to be <br /> the policy of the State of North Carolina to promote the efficient production and utilization of the <br /> products of the soil as essential to the health and welfare of our people and to promote a sound <br /> and prosperous agriculture and rural life as indispensable to the maintenance of maximum <br /> prosperity;" <br /> (3) The Uniform North Carolina Conservation and Historic Preservation Agreements Act, <br /> North Carolina General Statute 121-34 et seq., which provides that conservation agreements are <br /> "interests in land"that may be effective "perpetually;"which provides for the enforceability of <br /> restrictions, easements, covenants or conditions "...appropriate to retaining land or water areas <br /> predominantly in their natural, scenic, or open condition or in agricultural, horticultural, farming <br /> Page 2 of 21 <br />