HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2005-067 Purchase of Conservation Easement - Dr. Charles Keith~~5~ aoO,s a4 ~'
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 9" d ~ ~ "~~`s
RESOLUTION ~Q-
Approval of a Conservation Easement Between
Orange County and Dr. Charles Keith
WHEREAS, Orange County has adopted goals promoting the preservation of natural areas,
wildlife habitat, farmland and open space in the County; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has adopted measures that exceed State minimum standards to
protect public water supply watersheds, including the University Lake watershed, which
provides drinking water to the residents of Chapel Hill and Carrboro; and
WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation
easements on lands that include natural areas, wildlife habitat and riparian buffers within
water supply watersheds; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Keith owns 81 acres of land adjacent to Pickard's Mountain and
including headwaters of Morgan Creek within the University Lake Protected Watershed; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Keith has already protected 45 acres of the property with a conservation
easement that he granted to the Triangle Land Conservancy; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Keith wishes to permanently protect the remaining 36 acres of the property,
which includes a restored 1830s log cabin, an Arboretum and undeveloped forestland; and
WHEREAS, a conservation easement provides awin-win scenario -ensuring the
preservation of this private property for future generations and providing some level of
financial compensation to Dr. Keith;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the conservation easement in the
property owned by Dr. Charles Keith that is described in the conservation easement
agreement; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with Dr.
Charles Keith, in accordance with the terms of the attached easement agreement, subject to
final review by staff and the county attorney; and 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign
the easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur on or about
November 30, 2005.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Dr. Keith for his civic-minded interest in
pursuing this conservation easement through the County's Lands Legacy Program.
This the 7'h day of September, 2005.
Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
Moses Carey Jr., Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners