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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: May 19, 2026 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-j <br /> SUBJECT: Emergency Access Easement to Connect Lake Orange Road with Lake View <br /> Drive <br /> DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services <br /> (AMS), Emergency Services <br /> (ES), Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1.) Current and Proposed Emergency Alan Dorman, AMS Director, 919-245- <br /> Vehicle Travel Routes 2627 <br /> 2.) Emergency Access Easement with Kirby Saunders, ES Director, 919-245- <br /> Exhibit A - Property Map with 6123 <br /> Easement Cy Stober, Planning and Inspections <br /> Director, 919-245-2592 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve an emergency access easement that permits Emergency Services <br /> vehicles to cross a property that connects Lake Orange Road with Lakeview Drive, and authorize <br /> the Chair to sign the easement document upon final review by the County Attorney. <br /> BACKGROUND: For many years, Orange County Emergency Services has desired a way to <br /> connect Lake Orange Road with Lakeview Drive on the west side of Lake Orange. The connection <br /> is needed for two (2) reasons. <br /> First, establishing an access point allows Emergency Services to respond much more quickly to <br /> residents by reducing the travel distance to reach residents located on the west side of the lake. <br /> Currently, the only way to travel to the west side of the lake is via Carr Store Road, to Eno <br /> Cemetery Road to Lakeview Drive. The total distance, starting at the intersection of Lake Orange <br /> Road and Highway 86 is 4.2 miles. Using the new emergency access granted by the The Gill <br /> Living Trust, an emergency vehicle will be able to reach the same point by taking Lake Orange <br /> Road, a distance of 2.2 miles. Attachment 1 is an aerial view showing the current path, highlighted <br /> in red, and the new travel path, highlighted in green. <br /> Secondly, during Tropical Storm Chantal, Lake Orange Road washed out near the Orange County <br /> dam. This easement would provide a secondary means of ingress/egress for Emergency Services <br /> to assist in the event that Lake Orange Road washes out again due to flooding. In fact, after the <br /> road was originally washed out, the property owner installed a driveway at a neighbor's request <br /> to provide them with temporary access to Lakeview Drive. <br /> The access easement granted to the County only allows emergency access for Emergency <br /> Services vehicles and requires the County to install a gate and lock accessible only to Emergency <br />