HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-02-2006-9cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 2, 2006
Action Age a
Item No. -G,
SUBJECT: Approval of the Proposed Acquisition of Real Property (Penny Tract) from the
Triangle Land Conservancy
DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Conservation
ATTACHMENTS
1) TLC Letter of Intent
2) Vicinity Map
3) Site Map
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Stancil, 245-2590
Rich Shaw, 245-2591
PURPOSE: To consider approval of an agreement to acquire a 22,37-acre portion of the
Penny property located in Orange County from the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) for an
addition to the planned New Hope Preserve,
BACKGROUND: In 1992, Orange County, Chapel Hill, Durham County and City of Durham
adapted the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan, which called for the preservation
of lands along New Hope Creek, as it traverses from central Orange County to .lordan Lake.
One of the priorities identified in the current Lands Legacy Action Plan is to work with the
Triangle Land Conservancy on the acquisition of lands along aone-mile section of New Hope
Creek from Erwin Road to the Durham County line, A planned New Hope Preserve would
protect this area as a wildlife preserve and for a network of public walking trails that would
link Duke Forest trails to planned trails in Durham County.
Recent activities to protect New Hope Creek in Orange County date back to 2002 when the
Triangle Land Conservancy purchased three acres south of Erwin Road. In 2003, Jeff and
Angela Fisher conveyed a conservation easement on the site of the old Hollow Rack Store to
Orange County (in collaboration with TLC), In February 2006, Orange County completed the
purchase of seven acres located at the intersection of Erwin and Pickett roads from Duke
University for a proposed future "Hollow Rack Trailhead,"
The next priority for land protection along New Hope Creek is a 22.37-acre tract of land
owned by Wade and Carolyn Penny, The land is located in Orange County west of Pickett
Road, and includes about 1,000 feet of frontage along the Creek. The Penny's have agreed
to sell this property to the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) for a public trail corridor and
protected open space.. TLC was awarded state grant funds from the NC Ecosystem
Enhancement Program (EEP) to acquire the riparian portion of the property, The upland
portion of the property (located outside the 300-foot stream buffer) would require additional
funding from Orange County. Immediately following the TLC closing on the Penny property,
the entire 22.27 acres would be conveyed to Orange County. A letter of intent from the TLC
Board of Directors is attached,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total purchase price for the 22,37-acre Penny tract is $123,035
(or $5,500 per acre). The NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) will pay $110,825 for
the 20.15 acres of the 22.37-acre tract located within 300-feet-wide stream buffers on the
east side of New Hope Creek and on both sides of an unnamed tributary to New Hope Creek
(there is some overlap). Orange County would pay $12,210 for 2.22 acres located outside of
the stream buffers and another estimated $4,000 in transactional casts for a total of no more
than $16,000, EEP will pay an estimated $8,000 of transaction costs, including the survey.
Orange County's share of the cost (less than $16,000) would come from the 2001 Parks and
Open Space Bond, Lands Legacy portion ($2,487,000 currently available).
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
Approve the contribution of funds toward the purchase by the Triangle Land Conservancy
of 22.37 acres of land (Penny Tract) located west of Pickett Road; and
Accept the conveyance of the deed to the 22,37 acres of land from the Triangle Land
Conservancy; and
Instruct the County Attorney and staffs from ERCD and Finance to schedule and
complete a closing on the property expected to occur on or before April 30, 2006.
tl~ 3
TRIANGLE LAND
CONSERVANCY
February 20,2006
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
P.O Bnx 8181
Hillsborough, N,C. 2728
Re: Letter of lntent for Transfer of the Perury Tract
L7ear Commissioner Jacobs:
This letter of intent outlines the basic Terms of n proposed agreement beaveen `I riangle Land
Conservancy 1.7 LC 1 and Orange County f-or thu con~cyanec of a 22,3'-acre property (the Penny
I ract) fur the purposes of conservation and ]ow-impact recreation. The Penny Tract is west of
Pickett Road and adjacent to New Hope Creek in Orange County..
TLS' has a signed option to purchase this 22 37-acre property from uwnen lG'adC and Caru]vn
Penny at a purchase price of $5,500 per acra. TLC has succeeded in securing funding from the
NC Ecosys*.em Enhancement Program to acquire 20.15 acres of the 22.37-acre Penny Tract,
which consists of 30G-foot buffers along New Flope Creek and an unnamed tributary. The
remaining 2.22 acres (outside of the 300-foot buffers) mould be funded by Orange Comrty.
Orange County urould acquire from TLC the entire Penny Tract for the cost of the tr.~rneaction not
covered by the Ecosystem Farhancement Program. or about 516,000. A closing un this land
transaction is expected to occur by April 30, 2Q06.. -
The Triangle Land Conservancy looks forward to acquiring this property and to implementing
the New Hope Corridor Open Space A~aster Plan together with its partner Orange County.
Sincerely.
Kevin Brice V ! J
Fxeeutive Director ~a,, „~~S/ ~ ~~, ->L~,a «_-..Q ~,~~ut--
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Site Map -
Proposed hand Acquisition
Legend Penny Tract (22 acres) ~ 0 62.5125 25D Feet ~
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- Streams
Proposed Orange County land Orange County
County Ilne Environment 8 Resource
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I Parcel Boundary MN.1 02/15/06