Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 2, 2003 <br />Action AgenS a 6 <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Resolution -Purchase of Steep Bottom Branch Conservation Easement <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Conservation <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1) Draft Resolution <br />2) Draft Conservation Easement <br />3) Map of Site <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David StanciN, 245-2590 <br />Rich Shaw, 245-2591 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution for the purchase of a conservation easement on 64 <br />acres of an identified Natural Heritage site owned by Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), as <br />part of the County's partnership with TLC on this project. <br />BACKGROUND: In the spring of 2001, Triangle Land Conservancy approached Orange <br />County about a partnership to purchase and protect a 35-acre tract owned by Judge Stanley <br />and Carolyn Peele. The property adjoins a 29-acre tract already owned by TLC along Steep <br />Bottom Branch, a principal tributary of New Hope Creek. In closed session, the Board <br />agreed to participate in the land acquisition and authorized staff to work with its counterparts <br />from TLC to arrange for the purchase of the property. For simplicity and consistency of <br />ownership, TLC agreed to acquire the property and convey a conservation easement to the <br />County on the 35-acre Peele tract - as well as their own 29-acre site. These properties are <br />located near Davis Road west of Old 86. <br />The two parcels contain substantial portions of a Natural Heritage site identified in the 1988 <br />Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats of Orange County. The properties contain <br />the spring-fed source of Steep Bottom Branch as well as prime forest areas that contain a <br />rich diversity of wildlife habitat. <br />As agreed by the two parties, TLC purchased the 35-acre Peele property (at a bargain sale <br />price of $4,805/acre) in late 2001 through four installment payments. Orange County and <br />TLC agreed to share the purchase cost, with the County's share of the cost (ostensibly, the <br />final two installments) totaling $89,175. Since that time, an opportunity has arisen to lower <br />