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Draft 10/8/99 <br />P~tRT I , INTRODUCTION BIND 14~ TIONALE' <br />The natural and cultural landscape`of Piedmont North Carolina has changed <br />considerably in the 250 years since an English proprietary colony began <br />expanding. from the coastal areas into the frontiers of the Piedmont.. <br />In Orange County, stories of natural and cultural. landmarks have been part of <br />tradition passed down through the generations. The: Eno River, Occoneechee <br />Mountain and the 1840 Courthouse still exist, but many other places of natural <br />and cultural significance have been lost over time. The important natural and <br />° cultural places of the County exist in harmony with the lands that they are part <br />of. These. places constitute a legacyto future Orange. County residents, and <br />preservation of the lands which contain the County's most significant resources <br />will provide_a "lands legacy" forfuture generations. <br />I. Overview and Rationale <br />On June 22, 1998, the Orange County Commissioners established a new <br />initiative related to environment and resource conservation: This initiative <br />was the culmination of three years of research and discussion on the role <br />of Orange County in the preservation of natural and cultural resources. A <br />-1996 report by the `late Marvin Collins, °Preservation as a Function of <br />Local Government," served as the initial basis for discussion. From 1996- <br />1998, anumber of activities occurred to broaden the scope of the <br />question: <br />- A Commission for the Environment was formed to advise the Board of <br />Commissioners on matters related to the environment. and natural.. <br />resources. <br />- The report of Phase I of the Ground Water Resource Investigation was <br />received, and a second phase indicated the need for more research in <br />the area of ground water quality-and quantity. <br />- Follow-up work on a new recreation and- parks element of the <br />Comprehensive Plan began, discussing land-banking and future <br />parkland acquisition approaches.. <br />- New activities. and initiatives, such as Shaping Orange County's Future, <br />have broadened the scope of several other programs. <br />- The need for a centralized location for a resource database on <br />environmental programs was identified. <br />Based on these new events and activities, the Board of Commissioners <br />expanded the scope of discussion on the County's role in environmental <br />1 <br />