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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-12-2006-9fORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 12, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. ~--F SUBJECT: Lands Legacy Action Plan for FY 2006-08 DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): Lands Legacy Action Plan 2006-08 Map of Proposed Priority Areas Acquisitions to Date (2000-2006) INFORMATION CONTACT: David 5tancil, 245-2590 Rich Shaw, 245-2591 PURPOSE: To consider adoption of the Lands Legacy Action Plan for fiscal years 2006- 07 and 2007-08. BACKGROUND: The Board of Commissioners adopted the Lands Legacy Program in April 2000. Through this program, Orange County seeks to protect its most critical natural and cultural resources through a variety of voluntary means. Since 2000, the County has acquired 1,663 acres for a variety of parks or conservation purposes such as new parklands, nature preserves, conservation easements on farmland and natural lands, cultural resources, and watershed buffer lands, The County has also participated in the acquisition or protection of an additional 1,197 acres with other partners during this same timeframe, for a total of 2,860 acres, Many of the projects are accomplished in partnership with other conservation entities, including Triangle Land Conservancy, Orange Water & Sewer Authority, Eno River Association, USDA and the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District, and adjoining local governments, The Lands Legacy Program is operationalized each two years by adoption of a two-year Action Plan. The Action Plan presented herein reflects acquisition priorities for the 24- month period beginning July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2008. Since the FY 2006-07 fiscal year is already underway, some of the priorities listed in the plan are already familiar to the Board, such as the farmland conservation easement projects. Other projects are multi-year projects that are repeated from the previous action plan. Finally, as is the case with each Action Plan, some new potential projects are offered for the Board's consideration. As in years past, the draft plan was developed with input from citizen advisory boards (listed with their areas of expertise in parentheses): Commission for the Environment (natural areas, prime forest, riparian buffers), Agricultural Preservation Board (farmland preservation), Historic Preservation Board (historic and cultural resources) and the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council (parklands). Highlights of the 2006-08 Action Plan are shown on the table on pages 10-12 (and illustrated in general on the large map within the document), and include: i= Acquire remaining unprotected portions of identified Natural Areas of National or State significance (Meadow Flats, Currie Hill, Mason Farm Oak-Hickory Forest, Sugar Maple Bottoms) with assistance from other conservation partners; - Acquire land for a future Bingham Township park, in conjunction with the adopted plan, working with OWASA; - Continue to acquire portions of identified Natural Areas and water quality critical lands for additions to the Seven Mile Creek Preserve° - Complete farmland conservation easements (with USDA and OWASA matching funds) on over 650 acres of prime farmland (already underway); - Continue to acquire land and easements for New Hope Creek public trail and wildlife corridor consistent with the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan; - Formalize protection of natural areas owned by Duke and UNC, and partnering with those institutions on conservation projects of mutual interest; - Continue working with landowners interested in donating conservation easements in the Faucette Mill historic area along the Eno River; - Acquire options for conservation easements to protect riparian buffers in the Upper Eno and Little River watersheds; apply for state grants (Glean Water Management Trust Fund, others) to offset County costs A list of the accomplishments of the Lands Legacy Program over the first six years of the program is included, along with a map of those sites, as an attachment to the Action Plan. Three issue papers are attached to the materials that reflect policy topics that staff would like to bring to the Board's attention. Research into these issues is proposed for the next several months as a starting point for further discussion. The Board discussed the Action Plan at the August 31 work session, and with some minor clarifications asked that it be returned for adoption. The issue papers included as attachments would be discussed individually over the next few months at Board meetings. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds toward these priority projects over the two fiscal years (2006- 08) are present in the CIP (as both existing year and programmed future year expenditures). These include appropriations from the 2001 Parks and Open Space bond, alternative financing for conservation easements, and the Lands Legacy Opportunities Fund (pay-as-you-go funding). Where identified, the proposed funding source is listed in the attached Action Plan. For many projects ERGD seeks grant funds from a variety of state and federal sources.. Thus far Orange County has received 11 grants totaling $3.7 million for the acquisition of lands through the Lands Legacy Program. In some cases, such as conservation easements and potential new projects, adequate funding may not exist to accomplish all of the proposed projects, necessitating further prioritization and/or additional funding in future years. Final decisions on funding for land acquisitions are made by the Board on a project-by- project basis, as potential purchases are presented for approval. As in previous acquisitions, in each case separate project budgets with specific funding streams and amounts will be addressed at the time of purchase approval. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed Lands Legacy Program Action Plan for fiscal years 2006-2008, and agree to schedule the topics in the issue papers for subsequent work session or regular meeting discussion. j`7-q e ,y nt E N i ~I'allbe COllllty Environment &t Resource Conservation 306-A Revere Road / PO Box 81S1 Hillsborough, NG 2728 Phone: (919) 245-2590, Fax: (919) 644-3351 MEMORANDUM TO: Board of Commissioners John Link, County Manager FROM: David Stancil, Environment and Resource Conservation Director DATE: June 15, 2006 RE: Draft Lands Legacy Action Plan 2006-08 /Related Matters Please find attached the draft Lands Legacy Action Plan for the period July 1, 2006- June 30, 2008. Every two years, an action plan is adopted to identify the priorities for Lands Legacy in the upcoming two fiscal years. The current 2004-06 Action Plan runs though ,June 30, 2006. As in previous efforts, the draft has been prepared by staff - based on comments solicited from the relevant advisory boards that are engaged in the component areas of Lands Legacy, These boazds have once again provided valuable ideas on goals and objectives for the upcoming two years. The Action Plan itself includes these goals and objectives, followed by a priority list table for proposed acquisition targets, a map of these general areas, and review and summary information. As is always the case, many of the priorities listed aze continuations of ongoing multi-year projects, and carry forward from the previous Action Plan. Attachment 1 to the Action Plan includes a listing and map of acquisitions to date In addition to the Action Plan, I have also included supplementary documents that focuses on three possible additions or changes to the program: 1. Expanding the Nature Preserve Concept for Additional Opportunities (Upper Eno Preserve) the County has made a great deal of progress toward the proposed Seven-Mile Creek Preserve, with over 300 acres acquired to date, but opportunities have arisen (and may 0 continue) to expand this preserve concept to other parts of the Upper Eno basin, and beyond (Attachment 2). 2. Conforming Farmland Preservation Section to New Legislation Some clarifications and changes may be in order to take advantage of possible new grant funds from a revitalized N.C. Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (part of the Land for Tomorrow proposal). An appendix to the Lands Legacy document to accomplish this is proposed Please see Attachment 3. 3. Potential Long-Term Protection Mechanisms The April 2000 Lands Legacy Program Policy document suggested that long-term mechanisms be examined at a subsequent date, and a memo (Attachment 4) assesses what would be involved in such a step. Since its inception, Lands Legacy has protected over 1,600 acres of parklands, natural areas and open space, watershed buffer lands, farmland and cultural resources. This has been accomplished in partnership with several land trust and local government partners. To date, over $9 million of funds approved by County voters or appropriated by the Board have enabled Lands Legacy to secure and leverage another $3.7 million in grant funds for County projects. Approximately 1000 acres of additional projects aze pending finalization. We look forwazd to presenting this plan to the Boazd and received the Board's input on our next two years of operation.. Introduction The Lands Legacy Program was adopted by Orange County in April 2000, Administered by the Environment and Resource Conservation Department (ERCD), the program's mission is to help protect the county's most important natural and cultural resource lands before they are damaged or lost to incompatible development activities. The program is guided by an Action P/an developed by ERCD and adopted by the Board of Commissioners, The first Action Plan was aone-year plan adopted in May 2001. The now biannual Action Plan guides Lands Legacy acquisitions and protection for the specified years, The process of developing the Action Plan begins with staff identifying potential projects and asking the Board for initial guidance. Staff then meets with advisory boards for their input on development of priorities for the upcoming years. Using the advisory board recommendatlans, adrift Plan is presented to the Board of Commissioners for their consideration and input, The Action Plan is finalized in conjunction with the CIP process, The following is an Action Plan for the fiscal years 2006-2008. The plan incorporates comments from four advisory boards, cotapled with the continuation and completion of goals and objjectves from the previous action plan. The Action Plan contains goals, a summary of advisory board comments, specific action objectives, and a priority list of land acquisition and protection projects for the coming two years. Also attached is a brief Performance Table for the first six years of the Lands Legacy Program (2000-2006). (Noter Plans to continue to pursue grant funding for County projects are implicit.) 1. Upper Eno and Upper New Hope Riparian Buffers: Continue to protect riparian buffers in the Upper Eno River watershed critical area (including additions to Seven Mile Creek Preserve) and the Upper New Hope Creek watershed. 2, Faucette's Mill and Hall's Mill Historic Areas: Continue efforts to acquire conservation easements that would protect properties with historic structures and archaeological sites in the Faucette's Mill and Hall's Mill areas. 3. Agricultural Conservation Easements: Continue working with willing sellers (and partner entities) to acquire agricultural conservation easements in priority watersheds with assistance from the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program. 4. Bingham Township Park: Identify locations for potential land acquisition to establish a new community park in the White Cross area (Bingham Township}--the last remaining park identified in the 1988 Masker Recreation and Parks Plan. 5. Natural Areas and Prime Forests: Protect the highest priority natural areas and prime foresks identified in the Orange County Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat (2004 updake) and the Landscape with Wildlife reports (1997-99), Begin to structure these areas within a framework of nature preserves, where possible, For the period Ju/y 1, 2006 -tune 30, 2008 Lands Legacy Action Plan 2004-06 drag June 13, 2006 6. joint Town/County Open Space: Continue collaborating with the towns and other entities in acquiring land for establishing or expanding rustic trails or greenways identified in town plans that tie together important County-wide open spaces. 7. Natural Areas on University-owned Lands: Continue working with University of North Carolina and Duke University on the protection of natural Areas on university- owned lands through various voluntary means. A. Commission for the Environment (CfE) Cantinue efforts to protect .7ardan Lake Macrasite (e.g., Mason Farm Oak- Hickory Forest), Seven Mile Creek Preserve (e.g., Sevenmile Creek Sugar Maple Bottoms), Upper Eno riparian buffers, Upper Bolin Creek corridor, and University natural areas. Pursue protection of highest priarity natural areas still unprotected: Meadow Flats, Currie Hill, University Lake Stapes and Morgan Creek Bluffs. Identify key tracks for the proposed NC Mountain to Sea Trail along the Eno/Seven-Mile/Crabtree to Cane Creek corridor. Cantinue to explore potential pilot project to restore or reconstruct a piedmont prairie site B. Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) Continue purchase of farmland conservation easements from willing sellers. Focus on active farms in the Cane Creek, University Lake, Upper Eno, Little River and Back Creek watersheds-working to build a critical mass of farm easements in those watersheds. Augment County funds by pursuing grants (e.g., FRPP) in cooperation with partner agencies (e.g., OWASA, NRCS/Soil and Water Conservation Districk). Cantinue outreach to farm community. C. Recreation and Parks Advisory Council (RPAC) Acquire land for a new community park in Bingham Township. Consider lands with access to public water, sewer and public transportation so that future facilities could accommodate large public gatherings. For instance, RPAC would like to see such facilities as an amphitheatre or multi-purpose gymnasium, which would serve public needs and also generate revenue. D. Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Continue efforts to protect areas of historic significance in the Hall's Mill and Faucette's Mill communities. Pursue the protection of archaeological sites in New Hope Creek corridor (possible Native American site), McGowan Creek corridor (mill site and tobacco plug factory), and ammunition bunkers near Smith Level Raad. Protect "heritage corridors" with both cultural and scenic value (e.g., St. Mary's Road) and other cultural/archaeological sites whenever possible (e.g., Murphey School). Establish "archaeology emergency fund" for unanticipated costs associated with protecting archaeological sites and/or Z Lands LegacyAdion Plan 2004-06 draRJune Y3, 2006 historic roads. Acquire sites with historic structures so long as those structures are appropriately preserved and maintained. The following are more specific acquisition objectives developed from existing plans, discussions with land conservation partners- in some cases expanding upon or refining advisory board recommendations. These are not listed in priority order. A. Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat • Work with partners to protect (through acquisition or other means) the higher priority Natural Areas as identified in the Inventory of Natural Areas and Wi/d/ife Habitat (2004 update), including Mason Farm Oak-Hickory Forest, Meadow Flats, Currie Hill, University Lake Slopes, and Morgan Creek Bluffs • Protect the highest priority prime forest areas identified in A Landscape With Wr/d/ife: Part2(Wiley, Ludington and Hall, 1999) • Wark with the Eno River Association and others to proteck (through acquisition and other means) critical land for the Seven Mile Creek Preserve, including Sevenmile Creek Sugar Maple Bottoms Work with the Eno River Association and others to protect (through acquisition and other means) other priority riparian lands and upland habitats in the Upper Eno River watershed critical area and lands adjacent to Eno River State Park • Work with Triangle Land Conservancy and others to protect (through acquisition and other means) priority riparian lands and prime forest lands located in the Upper New Hope Creek watershed in central Orange County • Work with the Town of Carrboro, University of NC and the Friends of Bolin Creek to identify priority lands for potential protection (through acquisition and other means) the headwater section of the Bolin Creek corridor B. Farmland Preservation • Work with the Orange NRCS/Soil and Water District and OWASA to identify and prioritize willing seller(s) and donor(s) of conservation easements. (Where possible, build a critical mass of protected lands in these watersheds.) • Preserve farmland that also contains riparian buffers to help meet multiple conservation objectives (i.e., water supply protection, wildlife habitat) in the Cane Creek, Upper Eno, University Lake, Little River and Back Creek watersheds. • Work with the Orange NRCS/Soil and Water District to secure grant funds from the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program for acquiring agricultural conservation easements C. Parklands and Open Space • Identify potential locations for future acquisition of land in the White Cross area of Bingham Township for a community park Lands Legacy Action Plan 2009-06 d~aR .tune 13, 2006 Acquire key "missing link" properties for proposed Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail (linking Chapel Hill/Carrboro/County parks with the New Hope Creek corridor, including Duke Forest, and eventually Eno River State Park) Identify key parcels needed for a combination public pedestrian trail and wildlife corridor that would connect Occoneechee Mountain to the Cane Creek reservoir for the proposed NC Mountains to Sea Trail In all acquisitions, be cognizant of the potential for meeting other objectives of protecting riparian buffers, natural areas and historic/archaeological sites D. Cultural and Archaeological Sites • Continue working with landowners in the Faucette's Mill and Hall's Miil areas to protect the combination of historic and natural features in those communities • Conduct archaeological surveys of county properties acquired for future parks and nature preserves (e.g., McGowan Creek Preserve, Hillhouse Park) Work with the tiPC and others to accomplish preservation of cultural and archaeological sites associated with land acquisition projects E. Watershed Riparian Buffers • Protect riparian corridors in the Upper Eno River protected watershed; partner with the Eno River Association and others; pursue grant funds from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, Ecosystem Enhancement Program, and Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative • Identify and protect priority areas in the Little River watershed; partner with the Eno River Association and Triangle Land Conservancy where appropriate; pursue grant funds from the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative Identify and protect priority areas in New Hope Creek corridor; work with New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee and the Triangle Land Conservancy • Identify priority areas for protection in the Morgan Creek corridor in cooperation with the Morgan Creek Valley Alliance and others • Identify priority areas for protection in the Bolin Creek corridor; collaborate with Friends of Bolin Creek, the Town of Carrboro, the University of NC, and others • Preserve riparian buffers in other water supply watersheds through parkland acquisitions and agricultural conservation easement projects 4 io 0 M b Q O O N m 4. 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Explore the potential for establishing and managing a system of larger Orange County Nature Preserves, including an Upper Eno Nature Preserve and an expanded New Hope Preserve. 2. Work with advisory boards to develop a Countywide Farmland Protection Plan for possible adoption as part of the Lands Legacy Program. 3. Explore the potential for establishing an Orange County Land Trust or Open Space Authority as envisioned by the Lands Legacy program document. 4. Begin identifying key parcels for the proposed segment of the NC Mountains to Sea Trail corridor between Occoneechee Mountain and the Haw River. 5. Re-convene the Orange County Land Conservation Alliance to discuss progress and potential opportunities for collaboration with other conservation partners. 6. Continue exploring potential pilot project to restore/reconstruct a piedmont prairie site in partnership with others (NC Botanical Garden, universities, NRCS). 7. Continue outreach with civic organizations, neighborhood groups, and others to discuss the Lands Legacy Program and conservation options. 8. Compile land acquisition inquiries and potential opportunities from landowners and other partners, and present to the Board's for direction on whether to pursue acquisition. The first five years of the Lands t_egacy Program saw tremendous strides in the protection of priority resource lands, with 1,641 acres permanently protected (as of May 2006) and several more projects in the works. The FY 2006-08 Action Plan will build on projects from previous years, and includes additional projects in each of the Lands Legacy priority areas (natural areas, parkland, cultural/ historic resources, prime farmland and riparian buffers in potential wildlife corridors and public water supply watersheds. This Action Plan will further the use of 2001 parks and open space bonds funds to protect high priority resource lands in Orange County. ERCD will also continue to pursue grant funds from a variety of state and federal sources. 8 i~~ ~~- o ~ ( ~ I. / ~ ~~ L AAyye~ ~ ~Js ~I' ~~'~~il ~.:~ ~ r, r~ ,r ~ ~ 15 ~_ { ~~ r U ~~~r~ ~~,~ .~ , ~1~r x ,, -,` . ` y- j ,, ._ a.~;. 1 3"r S ~~' - j 1. - 1'~ L I ~ ul ^' L~ i~ ....~y - . '~ I ~~ I n I_ r~y~ i it A I' .I~. ~~~ ,~,~ JI;NC 10 _ ~. - Legend , =,'ill* HfstodclCultural I _j Prime Farmland '''~ . ~: G „_,;„~ Riparian Buffers Natural Areas Parkland(Tralls N W~E S 10.5 0 I 2w Thie map Is not a certified survey and no reliance may ~' be placed in its accuracy . O ! 4 I 3 _ --L... 1 ( I I .. 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Creek (~ Preperve Seven Mile Creek P.reserye °-L3 - McPherson Farm Steep-6bttom ,~ giackwood Farm' ~, Branch v Stanfield Q N ~g 0 1 Z Mlles Shy Farm & Future Millhouse ~Nafural Area Road Parkland ~ Cheek Farm New Hope Preserve Lloyd Farm. ~ ~ Twin Creeks, Keith Arboretum & - ' >!~ Preserve ~ .'.=?, ~~ Land legacy Acqulsitlons (2000-2008) Conservation Easement [ Purchase Streets 0 County OrdnBe Counly Environment 8 Rosource Conserva8on Depanmenl M Jones 8/28166