Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Durham County Board of Commissioners <br />September 14, 1999 <br />Page 2 <br />undeveloped tract that is also for sale. This larger tract is split by the Orange/Durham <br />line, with 255 acres in Durham County (shown as "Al "), and 135 acres in Orange County <br />(shown as A2). It was owned by George Newton and is now held in trust by the Triangle <br />Community Foundation until sold. Together these two properties comprise almost 570 <br />acres, and when preserved together present an exciting opportunity for Durham and <br />Orange to work cooperatively to provide additional recreation and open space <br />opportunities for our county residents. Such an opportunity could be lost if these tracts <br />were to be sold and developed in the coming years. From very preliminary investigations, <br />the site is generally felt to be appropriate for a number of recreation and open space uses. <br />Few undeveloped areas of this size remain on the Little River corridor, and we invite <br />Orange County to join with us to plan soon for the acquisition and preservation of both <br />parcels for park, recreation, and open space uses. The Triangle Land Conservancy is <br />prepared to assist Durham and Orange Counties with the coordination and acquisition of <br />this critical Little River land assemblage. The New Hope Creek Corridor open space <br />effort provides a model for how our communities can plan for and work cooperatively to <br />protect our region's most significant and sensitive open spaces. We feel that the potential <br />to plan jointly for a 570 -acre park and open space preserve along the Little River corridor <br />presents a similar opportunity. <br />To convey formally our intent, the Durham County Board of Commissioners voted <br />unanimously on Monday September 13 to pursue acquisition of the Durham County <br />portion of the Newton Tract and to urge the Orange County Board of Commissioners to <br />also acquire the Orange County portion of the site, to combine it with the 178 acre <br />"landfill" parcel, and to develop jointly a master plan for the use of these lands as a <br />recreation and open space amenity for our growing communities. <br />We look forward to hearing from you and to working with you on this exciting <br />opportunity. <br />Sincerely, <br />at"n) 9. ,A <br />MaryAnn E. lack, Chairman <br />Durham County Board of Commissioners <br />Attachment <br />cc: Kate Dixon, Executive Director, Triangle Land Conservancy <br />Dick Hails, Interim Planning Director <br />Jane Korest, Senior Planner <br />