HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-15-2013 - 5gORD- 2013 -037
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 15, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 -g
SUBJECT: Eno River Association Conservation Easements — Funding Assistance and
Approval of Budget Amendment #2 -B
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
and Recreation ( DEAPR)
ATTACHMENTS
1. Infinity Farm Location Map
2. Infinity Farm Easement Map
3. Buckquarter Creek Tract Location
Map
4. Buckquarter Creek Tract Site Map
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Stancil, 245 -2510
Rich Shaw, 245 -2514
1
PURPOSE: To consider a contribution of County funds for the acquisition of permanent
conservation easements by the Eno River Association to protect significant natural resource
lands at Infinity Farm (Cedar Grove Township) and along Buckquarter Creek (Eno
Township); and to approve Budget Amendment #2 -B.
BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important
natural and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of
Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has
partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,030 acres of prime farmland and
riparian buffers with conservation easements.
Over the past several months DEAPR has worked with the Eno River Association on projects
to conserve highly significant land and water resources at two locations: Infinity Farm in
Cedar Grove and the Buckquarter Creek Tract located northeast of Hillsborough. The Eno
River Association has gathered funding from several sources with which it intends to
purchase conservation easements from the owners of both properties.
Infinity Farm is a 161 -acre property located on McDade Store Road in Cedar Grove
Township. Owners Joy and Robert Kwapien intend to grant a permanent conservation
easement to protect a 61 -acre forested area located on the West Fork Eno River and 1,000
feet upstream of the West Fork Reservoir, a drinking water source for Hillsborough. The
property helps to buffer the river from farm activities and provides significant wildlife habitat.
The easement will prohibit future subdivision and maintain the entire 61 acres as forestland.
The Buckquarter Creek Tract is 41 acres located south of St. Mary's Road and adjacent to
Eno River State Park (Eno Township). The property is mature pine forest with 500 feet of
frontage along Buckquarter Creek (Eno River tributary) and 5,800 feet along other streams
that feed Buckquarter Creek. The landowners, Ann Bacon Hollowell and Mary Ellen
2
Radziemski, intent to grant a permanent conservation easement that will prohibit future
development and allow only sustainable forestry outside of riparian buffers (9 acres).
DEAPR staff helped prepare the conservation easement and the forest stewardship plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The purchase price of the Infinity Farm easement is $222,000
(appraised value) less a $20,000 donation from the landowners. The Eno River Association
(ERA) has secured funding to purchase this easement from a Healthy Forests grant
($139,964), City of Raleigh ($34,000), and Town of Hillsborough ($3,000). ERA requests a
$25,000 contribution from Orange County for the remainder of the purchase price.
The purchase price of the Buckquarter Creek conservation easement is $140,778 (appraised
value). The majority of funding has been secured by the Eno River Association (ERA)
through a Healthy Forests grant ($120,778). The ERA requests a $20,000 contribution
from Orange County for the remainder of the purchase price. The City of Raleigh will
provide ERA with additional stewardship funds ($12,000) for this project through the Upper
Neuse Clean Water Initiative.
Both properties are enrolled in the Present Use Value taxation program, so the conservation
easements would not lessen the amount of property taxes paid to the County. The decrease
in the properties' market value caused by the conservation easement would not lower the
property value to a level that is less than their present use value.
This budget amendment provides for use of existing County funds of $45,000 from the Lands
Legacy Capital Project transferred to the Conservation Easements Capital Project. The
amended Capital Project Ordinances is below:
Lands Legacy (445,000) - Project # 20011
Revenues for this Droiect:
ADDroariated for this Droiect:
Current FY
2013 -14
FY 2013 -14
Amendment
FY 2013 -14
Revised
Alternative Financing
$851,472
$0
$851,472
From General Fund
$769,100
$45,000
$724,100
Donations
$1,000
$0
$1,000
Appropriated Fund Balance
$9,337
1 $0
$9,337
Total Project Funding
$1,630,909
1 ($45,000)
$1,585,909
ADDroariated for this Droiect:
Conservation Easements ($45,000) - Project # 20006
Revenues for this Droiect:
Current FY
2013 -14
FY 2013 -14
Amendment
FY 2013 -14
Revised
Lands Legacy
$1,630,909
$45,000
$1,585,909
Total Costs
$1,630,909
($45,000)
$1,585,909
Conservation Easements ($45,000) - Project # 20006
Revenues for this Droiect:
Current FY
2013 -14
FY 2013 -14
Amendment
FY 2013 -14
Revised
Alternative Financing
$590,632
$0
$590,632
Capital Grant Funds
$1,028,280
$0
$1,028,280
From General Fund
$364,296
$45,000
$409,296
Total Project Funding
$1,983,208
1 $45,000
$2,028,208
3
Appropriated for this proiect:
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget
Amendment #2 -B authorizing the contribution of $45,000 in existing Lands Legacy funds
toward the Eno River Association's acquisition of permanent conservation easements to
protect significant natural resource lands at two locations in Orange County: Infinity Farm
(Cedar Grove Township) and the Buckquarter Creek Tract (Eno Township).
Current FY
2013 -14
FY 2013 -14
Amendment
FY 2013 -14
Revised
Conservation Easements
$1,983,208
$45,000
$2,028,208
Total Costs
$1,983,208
$45,000
$2,028,208
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget
Amendment #2 -B authorizing the contribution of $45,000 in existing Lands Legacy funds
toward the Eno River Association's acquisition of permanent conservation easements to
protect significant natural resource lands at two locations in Orange County: Infinity Farm
(Cedar Grove Township) and the Buckquarter Creek Tract (Eno Township).
Attachment 1
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rrrfINty Farm
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Hillsborough
Legend
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PotenMl Fasemert Area Eno River easm
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ERA Conservation Lan❑ - Streams
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Location Map
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Attachment 2
Conservation Easement Map for Infinity Farm
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31-
Legend
Mary Bacon Heirs Tract
(♦ Eno River State Paris
Streams
Roads
Attachment 3
Location Map
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Mary Bacon Heirs Tract
Location Map
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Attachment 4
Conservation Easement Map for Buckquarter Creek tract