Agenda - 12-01-2008 - 4e - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 1, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. ~- - ~',, SUBJECT: Authorization to Submit Grant Application to N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund -Breeze Farm Conservation Easement DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENTS Application Guidelines Location Map INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2590 Rich Shaw, 245-2591 PURPOSE: To consider authorizing staff to re-apply for a grant from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund fora Breeze Farm Conservation Easement. BACKGROUND: The North Carolina General Assembly has appropriated $4 million in FY 2008-09 for funding assistance from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFP Trust Fund). The mission of the Trust Fund is to preserve North Carolina's working family farms. Funding is available for agricultural conservation easements and agricultural enterprise programs. Applications are due December 5, 2008. In 2007 Orange County submitted two applications-one for purchasing a conservation easement for the Breeze farm (Phase II) and one for a regional Shared Use Food Processing Center. The first application was not selected for funding, but Orange County was awarded $132,000 for the regional Shared Use Food Processing Center. ERCD would like to re-submit the application for funds to complete the planned two-phased conservation easement on the Breeze farm, owned by Colonel William Breeze, Sr.. The Breeze farm is located north of Hillsborough along Schley Road (Cedar Grove Township). In April 2008 Orange County used a grant from the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program to purchase a conservation easement on a 141-acre portion of the Breeze farm (Phase I). In Phase II the County would purchase a conservation easement on an adjacent 153-acre portion of the farm. If the County were successful in completing this project, there would be over 560 acres of contiguous farmland protected along Schley Road. A map of the project area is attached. Grant awards will be announced in June 2009. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The grant, if awarded, would provide up to $300,000 toward the purchase of a conservation easement for the Breeze Farm. The grant would be matched with up to $200,000 in County funds to complete the project. The Lands Legacy Program currently has $437,900 unencumbered for purchasing conservation easements.