HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-24-2003 - 8f{
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 24, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Proposed Land Donation from The Nature Conservancy
DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Location Map
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Stancil, ext 2590
Rich Shaw, ext 2591
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732 -8181
Chapel Hill 968 -4501
Durham 688 -7331
Mebane 336- 227 -2031
PURPOSE: To consider accepting the donation of a 10 -acre tract in Cedar Grove Township
from The Nature Conservancy for future protection as a County nature preserve through the
Lands Legacy Program.
BACKGROUND: The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a private non - profit land trust with a North
Carolina Chapter office in Durham, acquired a 10 -acre tract in 1986 to protect a portion of a
natural area in Cedar Grove Township. The natural area, known as Allison Road Heartleaf
Ravine, is one of four documented sites in Orange County for Lewis' heartleaf, a rare plant
endemic to North Carolina and Virginia. The 15 -acre site was identified in the Inventory of
Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat for Orange County (Sather and Hall, 1988).
TNC does not have the resources to manage small sites of this kind and is interested in
conveying the property to Orange County. The transfer would include a deed restriction that
ensures protection for conservation. TNC would work with the County Attorney to determine
appropriate language to include in the deed.
The Lands Legacy Program, adopted in April 2000, was established to identify and protect the
important natural and cultural resources in Orange County. ERCD collaborates with many
conservation partners, including The Nature Conservancy, to further the protection of known
sites. ERCD agrees with TNC that Orange County is in a better position to monitor and manage
this site, which is located 8 miles from its Hillsborough office.
The Commission for the Environment considered this potential land transfer and recommends
that the County accept the property donation. The Commission includes volunteer biologists
that work with the ERCD staff to monitor County natural areas and make recommendations for
their conservation and stewardship.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The anticipated cost to acquire the property is approximately $4,000 for
transaction costs, including survey and closing costs. County funds for this transaction would
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come from the Lands Legacy Fund, and The Nature Conservancy has been asked to split the
cost of the survey. Existing staff and resources will be used to monitor and manage the property
as part of its normal duties and responsibilities for stewardship of county -owned property.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the BOCC approve this land
donation and authorize ERCD to work with The Nature Conservancy and the County Attorney to
prepare a deed for the transfer of the subject property to Orange County.
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