Orange County NC Website
Orange County Position Statement on a5 <br />Participation in Joint New Hope Open Space Project <br />March 31, 2005, amended 4/7/05 <br />In keeping with Orange County's interest in the protection of the New Hope Creek <br />corridor, and the concept of a New Hope Creek trail connecting Orange and Durham, <br />Orange County has agreed to participate in a proposed joint initiative to acquire lands <br />owned by Duke University (and other parties) by taking the following actions: <br />Contributing $200,000 over three years toward the proposed joint acquisition of <br />the 43 -acre tract owned by Duke University and located in both Durham and <br />Orange Counties, with the following conditions: <br />a. That Orange County, either independently or in conjunction with the <br />Town of Chapel Hill, hold title to the approximately 11 acres of the <br />subject property in Orange County <br />b, That the partner jurisdictions agree to discuss and execute at a future date <br />an inter -local agreement governing the uses and responsibilities of the <br />property <br />c. That the property be publicly - accessible and used for low- impact <br />recreation only (as a "New Hope Preserve ") <br />d, Orange County will pay for all costs of construction, operation, and <br />maintenance of trails or other amenities located in Orange County, <br />Durham County will pay for all costs of construction, operation, and <br />maintenance of trails or other amenities located in Durham County. <br />e. That, in conjunction with the participation in the joint acquisition of the <br />43 -acre tract, Orange County will accept an assignment from Triangle <br />Land Conservancy (TLC) of the option TLC holds on 25 acres of land <br />owned by Wade and Carolyn Penny and abutting New Hope Creek in <br />Orange County. Orange County is willing to accept responsibility for <br />remaining funds needed to accomplish this purchase, The County <br />appreciates the efforts of TLC and the Penny's to help complete this part <br />of the New Hope corridor, which has long been identified as an important <br />component of the New Hope plan. Orange County looks forward to <br />continuing to work with TLC on collaborative projects along the Orange <br />County portion of the New Hope Creek corridor, <br />f. The County is also willing to accept the proposed conservation easement <br />from the Penny's for the remainder of their property located in Orange <br />County <br />g, The first $500,000 of any governmental grant received for the purchase of <br />the subject property shall be used to offset Durham County's contribution <br />to the purchase of the property. Any governmental grant funds received <br />over and above $500,000 for the purchase of the subject property shall be <br />used to offset the contributions of all the participating governments on a <br />pro rata basis based on the total amount of the unreimbursed contribution <br />of each government, <br />