Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2013-037 Ordinance approving Budget Amendment #2-B and Eno River Assoc. Conservation Easements and Funding Assistance ORD-2013-037 1 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 INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Infinity Farm Location Map David Stancil, 245-2510 2. Infinity Farm Easement Map Rich Shaw, 245-2514 3. Buckquarter Creek Tract Location Map 4. Buckquarter Creek Tract Site Map 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(-$45,000) - Project#20011 Revenues for this project: Current FY FY 2013-14 FY 2013-14 2013-14 Amendment 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 1 $9,337 $0 $9,337 Total Project Funding $1,630,909 $45,000 $1,585,909 Appropriated for this project: Current FY FY 2013-14 FY 2013-14 2013-14 Amendment 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 project: Current FY FY 2013-14 FY 2013-14 2013-14 Amendment 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 1 $409,296 Total Project Fundin $1,983,208 $45,000 $2,028,208 3 Appropriated for this project: Current FY FY 2013-14 FY 2013-14 2013-14 Amendment Revised Conservation Easements $1,983,208 $45,000 $2,028,208 Total Costs $1,983,208 1 $45,000 1 $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). Bubdi n f ou2 4 InInky Farm w r: Locaftn Wop S AMi'k I i IH�llstatrroiagh ar 1� ff POier"l Easernert Area Eno River Dawn IrttfnOY Ferrn citias EkA Conrsenr~Law fteams Other Corrervatim Lead Maior Roach Location Map 5 Bubdi n f ou3 N InAnli y Farm .E, cmaervalion Easeffera Nap s a 115230 AW NO $20 d •_ Legland M Eat6mant At"(60.53awass} PunndA intmity Farm Property(161.45 acres) Pond a Riparian Buf r,Zone(31-W acres) Farmer Pond B Impoundmervt 4_......._r Existing Florid i=asement.(12.91 acres) Main Farm Road Tax Parcels r+�Existing Forest Roads —streams —Roads •...•. Drainage Conservation Easement Map for Infinity Farm Bubdi n f ou4 6 u e Mary Bacon Heirs Tract w k Lo caefon Map 0 5013.000 2,000 1000 4kow as v a Legend Mary Bacon Heirs Tract Eno Rarer Stake Park ° Streams Roads Location Map Bubdi n f ou5 7 " Buckquarter Creek Tract C&uervagan Earsomw M&p s 0 TS 153 .300 450 600 Stale in Fam tsG v Legend Buakquaiter Creek Tract Streams Protected ROa Non Buffer EXISID p Fomst Road Eno River State Park ` Former Quarry Tax Parcels Conservation Easement Map for Buckquarter Creek tract �o -ice- /3 Sq The Board approved five (5) untimely applications for exemption/exclusion from ad valorem taxation for five (5) bills for the 2013 tax year. e. Fiscal Year 2013-14 Budget Amendment#2 The Board approved budget amendments for fiscal year 2013-14 for Department on Aging; Department of the Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR); Library Services; Emergency Services; Sheriff Department; Housing, Human Rights and Community Development. f. Budget Amendment#2-A— Upper Neuse River Basin Association Funding Request - Best Management Practices Credit Determination Project The Board approved Budget Amendment#2-A to provide requested funds to the Upper Neuse River Basin Association to complete a project to increase the number of Best Management Practices available for affected parties to use in meeting nutrient reductions required by the State. g. Eno River Association Conservation Easements— Funding Assistance and Approval of Budaet Amendment#2-13 The Board approved making a contribution of$45,000 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. h. Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance Amendment Outlines and Schedules for Two Upcoming Items The Board approved process components and schedule for two upcoming government-initiated amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), and Zoning Atlas. I. Safe Routes to School Action Plan Update and Authorization of Next Steps The Board considered an update on Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan pre-adoption steps, and received authorization of next steps according to the Amendment form for the SRTS Action Plan. j. Preliminary Information and Approval to Finance Various Capital Investment Plan Proiects and County Equipment The Board approved a resolution, which is incorporated by reference, moving forward with financing for capital investment projects and equipment for the year. k. Board of Commissioners Meeting Calendar for Year 2014 The Board approved the regular meeting schedule for the Board of County Commissioners for calendar year 2014. I. Change in BOCC Regular Meeting Schedule for 2013 The Board considered three changes to the County Commissioners' regular meeting calendar for 2013 as follows: - Adding a joint meeting between BOCC and the City of Mebane for Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 5:30pm at the West Campus Office building downstairs meeting room, 131 W. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC, - Adding a closed session on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Solid Waste Administrative offices, 1207 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC for the purpose of"to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or, employee or prospective public officer or employee," NCGS 143-318.11(a) (6). 6. Public Hearings a. Economic Development Incentive for Morinaga America Foods, Inc.