Agenda - 09-02-2008 - 6c - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 2, 2008 Action Agen a Item No. SUBJECT: Petition for Funding Assistance from Botanical Garden Foundation DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Petition from Botanical Garden Foundation Map of Property INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2590 PURPOSE: To respond to a petition from the Botanical Garden Foundation for funding assistance from the County's Lands Legacy Program toward the purchase of property to expand the Foundation's Stillhouse Bottom Nature Preserve. BACKGROUND: On May 20, a representative of the. Botanical Garden Foundation, a non- profit support organization for the N.C. Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, presented a request for funding assistance for the acquisition of property to expand the Foundation's Stillhouse Bottom Nature Preserve. The Stillhouse Bottom Nature Preserve is astate-dedicated nature preserve and part of a state- significant Natural Heritage site (the Jordan Lake Macrosite). It adjoins the NC Botanical Garden and the Mason Farm Biological Reserve, located south of Chapel Hill near the Friday Center. The Foundation has acquired an option on a 5.5-acre property owned by the Ivey family that abuts the preserve and is part of the Natural Heritage site. The Foundation's option (which includes $10,000 in earnest money) expires on October 31, 2008. The total cost of this property, which is within the Town of Chapel Hill extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and OWASA urban services area, is $500,000. However, if the Foundation raises $400,000 in funds for the purchase, the Ivey family will contribute the last $100,000. To date, the Foundation has held a fundraiser and conducted tours of the property. These events led to $7,000 raised from private donations. The Town of Chapel Hill also pledged $34,000 in funding assistance in May of this year. The Foundation notes that several area landowners have indicated a willingness to match funds raised from the town, County and private donations. The petition requests $100,000 from the County toward the purchase.