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Home My WebLink AboutRES-2011-063 Resolution approving the Agricultural Conservation Easement between Orange County and William Breeze Sr. FarmG ~~- ~~ ~~ ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS "~~'.S Za~~ ~ o~~ RESOLUTION Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between Orange County and William Breeze, Sr. WHEREAS, agriculture in Orange County is an important facet of the economy and time honored way of life in the County; and WHEREAS, Orange County has an adopted goal promoting the preservation of farmland in the County; and WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds; and WHEREAS, the Breeze Farm includes .approximately 153 acres in the Little River protected watershed, consists entirely of prime agricultural soils, and is located in an agricultural community with good access to farm markets; and WHEREAS, Orange County intends to accept an agricultural conservation easement that would help to conserve the natural and scenic values of this farmland; and WHEREAS, matching grants of $172,000 and $150,000 were awarded to Orange County from the Federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program and the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, respectively, to help purchase the conservation easement; and WHEREAS, a conservation easement on these approximately 153 acres would ensure the preservation of this farmland for future generations and help to compensate the owners for this long-term commitment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural conservation easement to protect prime farmland owned by William Breeze, Sr.; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with William Breeze, Sr., in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; 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 September 30, 2011; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation with the County Attorney. This the 21St day of June, 2011. '~ ~' ,,~.., Donna Baker, Clerk o the Board ~~' ~-~~4 ~_~~ Bernadette Pelissier, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners oRD-~ col )- o~{-I ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 15, 2011 Action Agenda , Item No. ~ - ' SUBJECT: Cost Share Adjustment for Breeze Farm Conservation Easement (Phasease 2) and Approval of Bud et Amendment #4-B DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No and Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENTS Approved Resolution (June 2011) INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2510 Rich Shaw, 245-2514 PURPOSE: To authorize a reduction of $14,520 from NC Agriculture and Farmland Preservation Trust Funds for the agricultural conservation easement for the Breeze farm (Phase 2), and approve Budget Amendment #4-B. BACKGROUND: On June 21, 2011 the Board approved the County's acceptance of a permanent conservation easement for 153 acres of the Breeze farm located on Schley Road in Cedar Grove Township. Since then DEAPR has been working with the landowner, closing attorney, and federal and state funding partners to complete the project. In August DEAPR was notified by the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFP Trust Fund) that the state grant would be reduced from $150,000 to $135,480. The ADFP Trust Fund had originally awarded $150,000 for this project, but since the final purchase price for the easement will be less than had been estimated when the County applied, the state's share of purchase price (25%) is also reduced. The County was also awarded $172,000 in federal funds from the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, but the amount of federal funds remains intact. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total Breeze Farm Conservation Easement budget will decrease by $14,520 from $502,000 to $487,480. The revised cost share for the $487,480 budget: $172,000 from the federal Farm & Ranch Land Protection Program, $180,000 from Orange County, and $135,480 from NC Agricultural Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. The landowner (Colonel Breeze) will donate an additional 12% of the easement value ($64,500). 1 Budget Amendment #4-B Conservation Easements: Project # 20006 Ravarn iac fnr this nrniPrt' Prior Years Amendment FY 2010-11 Amendments 11-15-2011 Amendment FY 2011-12 Revise Private Placement $590,632 $590,632 Grant Funds 586,000 $ 14,520 571,480 Transfer from General Fund 12,944 12,944 Total Project Fundin $1,189,576 $ 14,520 $1,175,056 Annronriated for this nroiect: Prior Years Amendment FY 2010-11 Amendments 11-15-2011 Amendment FY 2010-11 Revised Vol a Easement $31,000 $31,000 Brooks Easement $2,400 2,400 Moore-Stanford Easement Breeze Farm Easement 502,000 $ 14,520 487,480 S kes Farm Easement 520,000 520,000 Unallocated 136,576 2,400 134,176 Total Costs $1 189,576 $ 14,520 $1,175,056 RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board authorize a reduction of $14,520 from the NC Agriculture and Farmland Preservation Trust Funds for the agricultural conservation easement for the Breeze Farm (Phase 2) and approve Budget Amendment #4- B. ~E$.. ~oj1- 06/~ ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ~~~ ~ RESOLUTION Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between Orange County and William Breeze, Sr. WHEREAS, agriculture in Orange County is an important facet of the economy and time honored way of life in the County; and WHEREAS, Orange County has an adopted goal promoting the preservation. of farmland in the County; and WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds; and WHEREAS, the Breeze Farm includes approximately 153 acres in the Little River protected watershed, consists entirely of prime agricultural soils, and is located in an agricultural community with good access to farm markets; and WHEREAS, Orange County intends to accept an agricultural conservation easement that would help to conserve the natural and scenic values of this farmland; and WHEREAS, matching grants of $172,000 and $150,000 were awarded to Orange County from the Federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program and the North .Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, respectively, to help purchase the conservation easement; and WHEREAS, a conservation easement on these approximately 153 acres would ensure the preservation of this farmland for future generations and help to compensate the owners for this long-term commitment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural conservation easement to protect prime farmland owned by William Breeze, Sr.; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with William Breeze, Sr., in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; 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 September 30, 2011; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation with the County Attorney. This the 21St day of June, 2011. Bernadette Pelissier, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 3 Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board