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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE 021003 Orange and y Commission for nvironment C / o PO Box 8181 - H i l lsborou h , N 7279- , ....,.r IF i Memorandum To : Commission for the Environment From : Cara Crisler and Richard Whisnant , Co - Chairs Date : February 3 , 2003 Re : February 10 Meeting Agenda Please find attached the agenda and materials for the next meeting of the Commission for the Environment , on Monday, February 10, 2003 7: 30 p , m . Southern Human Services Center 2505 Homestead Road Chapel Hill , NC A copy of the final draft ( full document ) of the State of the Environment report will be coming to all members via separate cover, to be mailed on February 4 . The meeting on February 10 is devoted almost exclusively to final discussions of the report , and plans for the March 29 Environmental Summit . If you have questions , or will be unable to attend , please contact Carol Melton ( 245 - 2590 , cmeltonC) co . orange . nc . us ) by the Friday before the meeting . `" o AGENDA Commission for the Environment February 10 , 2003 Southern Human Services Center 2505 Homestead Road , Chapel Hill , NC Time Pic , Item Title 7 : 30 I . Call to Order 7 : 30 II . Welcome New Members Charles Daniel , Ken Meardon , Lindsay Wichers 7 : 40 III Additions or Changes to Agenda ( Minutes for January 13 to be presented on March 10 ) 7 : 40 IV . Review Final Draft State of the Environment Report Comments from the January meeting and those received from members since that time have been incorporated into a final draft ( under separate cover) . The Commission is asked to review the report by sections, make any final changes desired , and adopt it ( pending a final style and grammar review/ non - substance changes ) . Color versions of the report will then be printed . 8 : 40 2 V . Environmental Summit — March 29 Tentative plans for the summit agenda and format are included as Attachment 1 . The Commission should discuss the plans and make final changes — so that the final agenda can be adopted on March 10 . 9 : 10 4 VI . Proposed Public Hearing Item — Outdoor Lighting Standards Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance Please see Attachment 2 . This item is tentatively to be presented for public comment on February 25 , 2003 . These amendments have been drafted by the Planning Department to address light pollution issues , as discussed by the Commission in 2001 . The Commission may wish to consider whether to make formal comments on the amendments or authorize a representative to speak at the hearing . 9 : 25 VII . Updates ➢ Land Use Plan Committee , Board of Commissioners Retreat 9 : 30 VIII . Next Meeting — March 10 Agenda items : Summit plans, CFE goals for 2003 , others ? 9 : 30 IX . Adjournment a �k Ur Draft 6 — 1 = 31 - 03 L I " Annual &aa# 5w4wwxeN*t S"PxX March 29 , 2003 10 : 00 a . m. Location : Southern Human Services Center , 2505 Homestead Road , Chapel Hill . Meeting room and lawn (weather permitting) . Agenda 1 . 10 : 00 Breakfast / Welcome and Introductions ( Cara Crisler, Co - Chairs , Commission for the Environment) 2 . 10 : 10 Recognition of Dignitaries /Orange County Achievements (Margaret Brown , Chair , Orange County Commissioners ) 3 . 10 : 20 State of the Environment presentation (David Stancil, Environment & Resource Conservation Director) 4 . 10 : 45 Keynote Speaker - TBA 5 . 11 : 15 Closing Remarks (Richard Whisnant , Co - Chair , Commission for the Environment) 6 . 11 : 30 Conservation Group Exhibits ( displays in meeting room) 7. 12 : 00 Adjourn (There will be an optional Nature Hike of the Seven -Mile Creek Preserve led by Land Conservation Manager Rich Shaw, vans leaving theparking lot at 11 : 45) Draft 6 — 1 . 31 - 03 Groups to be Invited ➢ General Public (via press releases , PSA' s ) Members of all area conservation and environmental groups (postcard) ➢ All land trusts (postcard) ➢ Interested citizens , students ( collegiate and high school - flyer and PSA' s ) ➢ Elected Officials (postcard) ➢ Advisory Board members (postcard) ➢ State officials ( DENR Secretary and Section Heads , others as identified) ➢ Media (postcard) Mailing of postcard invitation to master list of advisory boards , elected boards , County environmental groups , area land trusts and organizations . Organizations asked to place notice in newsletters and mailings . Timeline of Actions Leading to Summit Note : Work on the SOE report would continue throughout the timeline below Time Activity February 10 , 2003 CFE reviews Summit agenda and plans February 11 - 14 , 2003 Keynote speaker and other speakers solicited and confirmed . February 17 , 2003 Notice of Summit (postcard) mailed to all invitees (see above ) February , 24 = 28 , 2003 Summit subcommittee finalizes all programmatic details , publicity plan March 10 , 2003 CFE reviews and approves Summit agenda and plan . Program details sent to Board of Commissioners March 17 , 2003 News release / PSA' s run March 28 , 2003 Facility Set - Up , Final Arrangements [ March 29 , 2003 Hold Summit Other Notes ➢ Ask local restaurants and markets to contribute food for the breakfast/snacks ➢ Conduct a survey at close of event to gauge attendees reaction to SOE , priorities and their reaction ➢ Obtain canopy for outside activities AVAC4MrWr � Z W'RAFT An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance Of Orange County Be it ordained by the Board of Commissioners of Orange County that the Orange County Zoning Ordinance is hereby amended as follows : Section 1 . ZONING ORDINANCE , Amend Table of Contents , Article VI to add new provisions entitled " Outdoor Lighting Standards " and to identify it as Section 6 . 31 with corresponding subheadings and nomenclature as specified in this Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of Orange County . Section 2 . ZONING ORDINANCE , Amend Article 6 by adding a new requirement to read as follows : 6 . 31 Outdoor Lighting Standards 6 . 31 A Purpose and Intent A . Outdoor lighting is provided for a variety of purposes to the benefit of modern society . For work or recreation , it enables people to see essential detail in order that they may undertake their activities at night . It facilitates the safety or security of persons or property, for example through lighting on roads and pathways . It may be used to emphasize features of architectural or historical significance , and to light parks and gardens . It is used for advertising or display to promote products or services , or to call attention to commercial premises by means of area lighting or signs . B . It is the intent of this ordinance to preserve , protect , and enhance the lawful nighttime use and enjoyment of any and all property through the use of appropriate lighting practices and systems . Such individual fixtures and lighting systems are designed , constructed , and installed while maintaining safety , security and productivity , and curtail the degradation of the nighttime visual environment . 6 . 31 . 2 Definitions Direct Light : Light emitted directly from the lamp , off of the reflector diffuser , or through the refractor or diffuser lens , of a luminaire . � J DRAFT Disabling Glare : Lighting that impairs visibility and creates a potentially hazardous situation either for pedestrians or motorists . Fixture : The assembly that houses the lamp or lamps and can include all or some of the following parts : a housing , a mounting bracket or pole socket , a lamp holder , a ballast , a reflector or mirror , and/or a refractor or lens . Floodlight : A light fixture having a wide beam . Footcandle : (fc ) The illuminance measured one ( 1 ) foot from a one ( 1 ) candela source . Fully Shielded : Outdoor light fixtures shielded or constructed so that no light rays are emitted by the installed fixture at angles above the horizontal plane as certified by a photometric test report . Glare : Light emitting from a luminaire with an intensity great enough to reduce a viewer ' s ability to see , and , in extreme cases , causing momentary blindness . Light Pollution : General sky glow caused by the scattering of artificial light in the atmosphere and resulting in decreased ability to see the natural night sky. Light Trespass : The shining of light produced by a luminaire beyond the boundaries of the property on which it is located . Lumen : A unit of luminous flux . One footcandle is one lumen per square foot . For the purposes of this Ordinance , the lumen - output values shall be the INITIAL lumen output ratings of a lamp . Luminaires A complete lighting system that includes a lamp or lamps and a fixture . Nuisance Glare : Light that creates an annoyance or aggravation but does not create a potentially hazardous situation . Spill Light : Light emitted by a lighting installation that falls outside the boundaries of the property on which the installation is sited . Spotlight : A light fixture having a narrow beam . 1 +4+yyFe `J DRAFT 6 . 31 . 3 Applicability A . All nonresidential outdoor lighting fixtures installed on private or public property shall apply except as stated in Section 6 . 31 . 4 . B . All outdoor lighting fixtures existing and legally installed and operative before the effective date of this ordinance are exempt from these requirements unless they are determined to create a nuisance glare or a disabling glare as defined by this ordinance . When existing lighting fixtures become inoperable , their replacements are subject to all the provisions of the Outdoor Lighting Standards . C . Compliance with this Section shall be administered by the Orange County Planning Department . D . In the event of a conflict with any other section of this article , the more stringent requirement shall apply . 6 . 31 . 4 Exemptions The following are exempt from the provisions of this Section . A. Any lighting used for single family residential or bona fide agricultural purposes , except for those deemed to be a nuisance as determined by Section 6 . 31 . 3 . b of the Zoning Ordinance . B . Traffic control signals and devices . C . Streetlights installed prior to the effective date of the adoption of this provision . D . Temporary emergency lighting ( i . e . fire , police , repair workers , etc . ) . E . Moving vehicle lights . F . Navigation lights ( i . e . airports , heliports , radio/television towers , etc . ) . G . Seasonal decorations with individual lights in place no longer than 60 days . H . Security lights of any wattage that are controlled by a motion - sensor switch , do not remain on longer than 12 DRAVY minutes after activation , and do not exceed 150 watts (2200 lumens ) . 6 . 31 . 5 Submittal Requirements A lighting plan shall be submitted with site plan ore preliminary plan approval documents . The plan shall contain the following information . A . Plans showing the location , type , and height of luminaries including both building and ground fixtures ; B . A description of the luminaries , including lamps , poles or other supports and shielding devices , which may be provided as catalogue illustrations and product specifications from the manufacturer ; C . Photometric data , such as that furnished by the manufacturer , showing the angle of light emission ; and D . Additional information as may be required by the Planning Department in order to determine compliance with this Section . 6 . 31 . E General Standards For All Areas . A . All lights shall be shielded in such a way as to direct light toward the Earth ' s surface and away from reflective surfaces , except as expressly exempted from the provisions of these regulations . B . Light fixtures or lamps shall be shielded/shaded in such a manner as to direct incident rays away from all adjacent properties . C . Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps . rated at a total of more than 1 , 800 lumens , and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 900 lumens , shall not emit any direct light above the horizontal plan through the lowest direct- light-emitting part of the luminaire . D . Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 1 , 800 lumens , and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 900 lumens , shall be mounted at a height equal to or less than the value of 3 + ( 13/3 ) , where D is the distance in feet to the nearest property boundary. The maximum height RAir of the luminaire may not exceed 25 feet , except as required for public or private roadway illumination . E . Luminaires used for public or private roadway illumination may be installed at a maximum height of 25 feet and may be positioned at that height up to the edge of any bordering property . F . Any light source permitted by this code may be used for lighting of outdoor recreational facilities ( public or private) , such as , but not limited to , football fields , soccer fields , baseball fields , softball fields , tennis courts , or show areas , provided all of the following conditions are met . 1 . All fixtures used for event lighting shall be fully shielded as defined in Section 6 . 31 . 2 of this code , or be designed or provided with sharp cut-off capability, so as to minimize up - light , spill - light , and glare and may be a maximum height of forty-five (45 ) feet . 2 . Lights for recreational purposes shall be turned off during non - operating hours . G . Any temporary outdoor lighting that conforms to the requirements of this Section shall be allowed . Nonconforming temporary outdoor lighting may be permitted by the Planning Director after considering : 1 ) the public and/or private benefits that will result from the temporary lighting , 2 ) any annoyance or safety problems that may result from the use of the temporary lighting , and 3 ) the duration of the temporary nonconforming lighting . H . If any subdivision proposes to have installed street or other common or public area outdoor lighting , the final plat shall contain a statement certifying that the applicable provisions of the Orange County Outdoor Lighting Standards will be adhered to . The required Lighting Plan and associated documents shall be submitted and approved by the Planning Department prior to installation of any regulated lighting . I . Upward flagpole lighting is permitted for governmental flags only , and provided that the maximum lumen output is 1300 lumens . Flags are encouraged to be taken down at sunset to avoid the need for lighting . 110V09 DD \' Z J . Any facilities which require floodlighting may not arrange the light in such a way that it will shine towards roadways , onto adjacent residential property or into the night sky . K . Any interior lighted signs may not be lit at night when the face of the sign is removed or damaged in such a way that the light may distract drivers or adjacent property owners . 6 . 31 . 7 Additional Standards For Commercial , Industrial and Business Districts and Any Roadway Adjacent to Residential Zones : A. Any light fixture must be placed in such a manner that no light emitting surface is visible from any residential area or public/private roadway, walkway, trail or other public way when viewed at ground level . B . All outdoor lighting shall be reduced by 75 percent or deactivated by timers and sensors during non - operating hours for non - residential uses . Illuminated signs are included in this requirement . C . The level of lighting shall not exceed 0 . 5 footcandles at any residential property line or 1 . 0 footcandles at any non - residential property line . D . Any canopy structure used at a business location must have recessed lights with diffusers which do not extend below the surface of the canopy . E . Any luminaire on a pole , stand or mounted on a building must have a shield , an adjustable reflector and nonprotruding diffuser . 6 . 31 . 8 Prohibitions A. The use of laser source light or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment , when projected above the horizon , is prohibited . B . The operation of searchlights for advertising purposes is prohibited . C . Electrical illumination of outdoor advertising off- site signs is prohibited . PAI? I D . Use of mercury vapor luminaires is prohibited . 6 . 31 . 9 Severability Should any section , clause or paragraph of this Section be declared by court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid , the same will not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or part hereof other than the part declared to be invalid . Section 3 . This ordinance is effective upon its adoption . NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Orange County Commissioners that this ordinance entitled "An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance of Orange County" be adopted . Upon motion of Commissioner seconded by Commissioner , the foregoing ordinance was adopted this day of , 2003 . I , Donna S . Baker , Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for Orange County , DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on , 2003 as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of the said Board . WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County , this day of 2003 . SEAL Clerk to the Board of Commissioners iz Additional Information Items Commission for the Environment Agenda 13 Attachment 3 Update Items Last Month ' s Board of Commissioners Meetings Attached are abstracts of selected materials of interest from the previous month' s Board of Commissioners agendas . where appropriate, action taken on the item is written on the top of the abstract. For more details on these items , please go to http • / / www co orange nc us / OCCLERKS / agenmenu . htm January 21 , 2003 January 25 , 2003 Board retreat ) January 29 , 2003 worksession ' �, S a � a MCZr ) j (; Gr �U February 4 , 2003 ( CIO Cif P I Go, lG red 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date : January 21 , 2003 Action Agenda Item No . 51 SUBJECT : Resolution In Support of Adequate Bridge Length and Vertical Clearance For US 151501 Crossing of New Hope Creek DEPARTMENT : County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING : (Y/ N ) No ATTACHMENT( S ) : INFORMATION CONTACT : Commissioner Brown Draft Resolution TELEPHONE NUMBERS : Hillsborough 732 =8181 Chapel Hill 968 = 4501 Durham 688 =7331 Mebane 336 =227 =2031 PURPOSE : To consider a Resolution In Support of Adequate Bridge Length and Vertical Clearance for US 15/501 Crossing of New Hope Creek . BACKGROUND : North Carolina Department of Transportation , as part of TIP Project U -4012 to add a northbound and a southbound lane to US 15 - 501 from north of Mt . Moriah Road to south of Garrett Road , will replace the bridge over New Hope Creek . The NCDOT preferred design , as outlined in the department ' s Environmental Assessment for the project , includes a 205 -foot bridge span with an eight-foot vertical clearance . The NCDOT preferred design is below the recommended height for trail crossings recommended by the State of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission , and will impair trail maintenance activities , and will preclude use of the trail for equestrian activities in the future . North Carolina ' s Natural Heritage program recognizes New Hope Creek Corridor as one of the most significant habitat corridors in the piedmont . The New Hope Creek Open Space Corridor Plan , adopted by the City of Durham , Durham County , the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County in 1991 , calls for the New Hope Creek floodplain to be preserved as a significant wildlife habitat and area recreation amenity . The construction , in 1956 , of the present bridge used extensive fill to minimize the length of bridge span needed . The result has been significant deterioration in natural qualities of the floodplain for wildlife habitat and movement , the natural flow of floodwaters and recreational trail use . The new bridge design could avoid those same impacts to the corridor and help remediate the past environmental degradation . Such bridge design would likely require a 300 -foot span and average 10 -foot vertical clearance . FINANCIAL IMPACT : There is no financial impact associated with approval of the resolution . 2 RECOMMENDATION ( S ) : The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached resolution . 3 b ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ADEQUATE BRIDGE LENGTH AND VERTICAL CLEARANCE FOR US 151501 CROSSING OF NEW HOPE CREEK WHEREAS , the State of North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT ) in TIP Project U4012 plans to expand US 15/501 to six lanes between Mt . Moriah Road and Garrett Road and such expansion will require removing and rebuilding the bridge across New Hope Creek in this area ; and WHEREAS , the State of North Carolina Department of Transportation has issued an Environmental Assessment dated July 7 , 2002 in which the recommended bridge alternative has a height of 8 feet , a length of 205 feet and a width of 122 feet ; and WHEREAS , Orange County has adopted the New Hope Creek Corridor Preservation Plan and such plans anticipate the portion of the New Hope Creek corridor crossed by the bridge will provide both recreation trail and wildlife corridor amenities ; and WHEREAS , the New Hope Creek Corridor is recognized as providing a regionally significant wildlife corridor in the Piedmont by the State of North Carolina ' s Natural Heritage Program ; and WHEREAS , the NCDOT- recommended alternative combination of bridge length , height and width provides a wildlife crossing that is less protective than other bridges NCDOT has under construction in the New Hope Creek watershed and provides less wildlife protection than that called for in the most recent scientific literature ; and WHEREAS , the NCDOT- recommended alternative is less protective than that recommended by the State of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission , the City of Durham , Durham County , the Town of Chapel Hill , the New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee , the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee and others (the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission and the New Hope Audubon Society ) ; and WHEREAS , the NCDOT- recommended alternative bridge height is below that of the existing bridge , is below the recommended height for trail crossings in the Federal Highway Administration Enhancement Program as well as the standards of the American Society of Transportation Officials , is below the height of NCDOT' s 140 crossing of New Hope Creek that is presently under construction , is below the height recommended by the organizations mentioned 17 4 in the previous paragraph , will impair trail maintenance activities , will preclude use of the trail for equestrian activities in the future ; and WHEREAS , the public and private investments to protect the New Hope Creek Corridor have exceeded $4 . 5 Million ; and WHEREAS , an increase of bridge length of 100 feet could protect public and private preservation investments of over three times the additional construction cost of a longer bridge ; and WHEREAS , the original bridge construction over New Hope Creek used large amounts of fill across the New Hope Creek floodplain which impacts the natural hydrologic and wildlife functions of the corridor ; and WHEREAS , the NCDOT Environmental Assessment does not consider the potential ecological and recreation advantages that could accrue were the new bridge to be constructed to remediate these extensive and previous environmental impacts ; and WHEREAS , the NCDOT Draft Transportation Improvements Budget ( TIP ) for 2004 -2010 budgets $ 7 , 325 , 000 for this construction project , while current NCDOT construction estimates total only $ 6 , 850 , 000 for the project ; and WHEREAS , there presently exists an estimated $475 , 000 in the TIP project budget which could fund approximately one - half of the requested additional bridge length without impacting the project budget ; and WHEREAS , the NCDOT proposes to cross one of the most important natural corridor in the Triangle with a bridge that limits the New Hope Creek corridor' s trail options and threatens the public and private investments made to establish a wildlife corridor in cooperation with City of Durham , Durham County and the Town of Chapel Hill ; NOW THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS requests the North Carolina Department of Transportation revise the Environmental Assessment to give due consideration of alternatives that provide better remediation of past environmental degradation along New Hope Creek ; are more protective of Orange County Is plans for use of the New Hope Creek Corridor , more protective of the public and private investments made to protect the corridor and more attentive to the environmental improvements associated with a longer bridge length ; FURTHERMORE , the Board of Commissioners expresses its support for bridge alternatives with lengths longer than the NCDOT- preferred alternative that would be more cost- effective , protect previous public investments in the corridor , provide more environmental protection for wildlife , and permit trail uses that are l � 5 flexible and diverse ; in particular , expresses support for a bridge that is at least 10 feet high and 300 feet long as well as 122 feet wide ; AND FURTHERMORE , the Board of Commissioners requests that the Orange County representatives to the Transportation Advisory Committee convey to the Department of Transportation the above concerns and preferences about the NCDOT- preferred alternative and the associated Environmental Assessment . This the 21 st day of January , 2003 . ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AGENDA Page 1 of 2 I ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ANNUAL PLANNING AND GOAL - SETTING RETREAT SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER January 25 , 2003 Abstract (9 : 00 ) Review Agenda and Agree on Process for Conducting Retreat (9 : 05 ) Update on NCACC Legislative Goals (9 : 10 ) Fiscal Review/Outlook for FY 2002 - 2003 and FY 2003 - 2004 (9 : 30 ) Setting BOCC Priorities for 2003 /Brainstorming Reference Documents . Looming Issues • Commissioner Goals . Departmental Updates . 2002 Retreat Brainstorming Information Commissioner Identified Potential Discussion Topics • School Membership Projections . Homeland Security . Ten-year CIP • Orange Grove Road Access Management • Northern Human Services Center . Rural Buffer . Low - income Elderly . Intergovernmental Parks Work Group Update ( Coordination with Healthy Carolinians ) . Developing Strategies for Opening Parks • Groundwater Issues ( 12 : 00) Potential Work Session Topics ( 12 : 3 0 ) Lunch ( 1 : 00 ) Review of Input from Advisory Boards and Commissions ( 1 : 30 ) Capital Issues httpo //www . co . orange . nc . us/OCCLERKS/030125 . htm 01 /31 /2003 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AGENDA Page 2 of 2 G � a . Senior Center Development b . Bond Projects (2 : 00 ) Comprehensive Plan & Unified Development Ordinance ( 2 : 00 ) Environmental Factors - - Development Ordinance (2 : 45 ) Board Matters a . Board Procedures b . Work Group Updates c . BOCC Appointment Procedures d . Specific Appointments . of BOCC Members to Advisory Boards (4 : 00 ) Adjourn http : //www . co . orange . nc . us/OCCLERKS/030125 . htm 01 /31 /2003 21 I I a ) C)/) 4PNA . ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORKSESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date : January 27 , 2003 Action Agenda Item No . SUBJECT : Action Plans for Lands Legacy and Parks Development DEPARTMENT : Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING : (YIN ) No Conservation ATTACHMENT ( S) GO INFORMATION CONTACT : Draft Annual Action Plan 2002 - 2004 David Stancil , 245 - 2590 Map of Proposed Priority Areas Rich Shaw , 245 - 2591 Excerpt from Recent TLC Publication Lori Taft , 245 - 2673 Park Facility Plan Report TELEPHONE NUMBERS : PFP Chronology Hillsborough 732 =8181 Staff Memo on Potential Actions Chapel Hill 9684501 Durham 688 -7331 Mebane 336 =227 -2031 PURPOSE : To consider adoption of the draft Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan for fiscal years 2002 -03 and 2003-04 , and to review the updated Park Facility Plan ( PFP ) process report . BACKGROUND : A . Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan 2002 =04 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 . Over the first two years of the program , the County has protected 794 acres for future use as parkland , nature preserves , farmland and historic/cultural sites , with negotiations underway on another 424 acres . The Lands Legacy Program is activated each year by adoption of an Annual Action Plan , concurrent with the CIP process . For this fiscal year , the Action Plan was withheld until decisions about the CIP and bond sales were made , since these directly impact the Action Plan . On December 2 , 2002 , the Board asked that the current Action Plan be combined with a FY 2003 - 04 Action Plan , to be considered together as a two—year plan . The Action Plan presented herein reflects acquisition priorities for this fiscal year and 2003 - 04 . Since the FY 2002 -03 fiscal year is already well underway , many of the priorities listed in the plan are already familiar to the Board . This , plus the many multi -year projects already present , make the conversion to a two -year plan a relatively- simple task . ? J 2 The draft plan was developed with considerable input from four citizen advisory boards ( listed with their areas of expertise in parentheses ) : Commission for the Environment ( natural areas and prime forest , riparian buffers ) , Agricultural Preservation Board (farmland preservation ) , Historic Preservation Board ( historic and cultural resources ) and the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council ( parklands ) . The draft Action Plan is also consistent with the Lands Legacy Long -Term Priorities document (2002 -2010 ) that was adopted by the Board in April , 2001 . Note : Based on Board discussion at the November 11 worksession , the Adams Tract has been removed for separate consideration and is not a part of the Action Plan as presented here (staff would add it later if the Board decides to pursue the matter) . The Town of Carrboro has asked that discussion of this item be delayed until a later date . A new section (Goal #5, page 2 of the Action Plan) addresses working with UNC and Duke on land issues of mutual interest, as requested by the Board, and language has also been added noting that acquisition of new parklands will be considered in conjunction with updates planned to the Parks and Open Space Element of the Comprehensive Plan . The highlights of the Action Plan for FY 2002 -04 are to : ➢ Jointly acquire portion of Southern Shagbark Hickory Forest ( Natural Heritage site ) with N . C . Botanical Garden or the N . C . Botanical Garden Foundation ➢ Continue to acquire portions of identified Natural Heritage sites and water quality critical lands at Seven Mile Creek Preserve ➢ Complete three farmland conservation easements (funded in part by USDA grant ) totaling 424 acres , and identify willing sellers in priority areas for next round of USDA grant cycle ➢ Acquire land or easements for the " missing links " needed for eventual Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail ➢ Formalize protection of natural areas owned by Duke and UNC , and partnering with those institutions on conservation projects of mutual interest ➢ Work with group of 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 watershed / apply for Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant ➢ Acquire lands for future park sites , in conjunction with adopted plan ➢ Pursue other opportunities as they arise A list of the accomplishments of the Lands Legacy Program over the past two years is also included in the Action Plan . B . Park Facility Plan ( PFP ) Process and Timetables On September 91h and November 11 'h1 2002 , the Board reviewed the Park Facility Planning ( PFP ) Process report . This report includes : ➢ Proposed general operating principles for all County parks , and ➢ Park Summary Sheets for the County parks ( excluding projects already underway and joint projects that are not yet ready for discussion iviti ) that address project actes and actions needed to begin each project . 1 ' r I I I Park Project Recommended Action MINE EflandmCheeks Park ( 11 ) 0 Staff proposes committee review of 1996 concept plan • recommendations on phase 11 facilities , beginning in Ii Cedar • _ March• • • • • - • • . • • • - • 11 Fairview Park Ila k 1M'= _- 7 �tT _3e :y �, : t : • :i, 1 } r __ _ - Vie _ � � . � _ � - �t — Y Projects • Underway Master Plan underwa Little River Park Master Plan underwav Maple View FieldConstruction to beoin March 2003 Southern Construction u • - av McGowan Creek • _ Concept approved , being prepared • iO 11 ..ty .' _ i:iria'N.t �' F'�!'� = -'rs� •-;t T . We k.t d. IyY�r -,v{ .µ `t -r°' � '�7 _ - _ _ - .. Y_f ':. `— 3� ^.F?I;� k rdk �, , {I .j• 1 has _ k _ me i a� Pee - 4 _ _ ■ 4 �•� f. 'A yiL rt ::,;J e rij • • Underway Pending �' r : . err: s• i .,�3...sn - Me Discussion Southern Park Conceptual Plan approved , Process discussions • • Smith Middle - • - • • •• gem • • • • • • Joint Town/County - - _ - r :..i�'-3�34 ±•�-Tr — .' Pik.n-i .....,s�f- ��i- L•L ief[.xA New Hope Park Blackwood Farm • • . - • • _ • r r r r • • - - • • r • • r r • • r • • • • • - I • • I • • • • I • • � 1 I r • • • • 1 • • • I I • • • VW • W I • I • • I • • • • • • • • • • - • - ' • ' • 9 • • • • • • • r I • 4 Action Plan (Table 1 ) . Final decisions on funding for land acquisitions are made by the Board of 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 . For the Park Facility Plan items , the proposed project timetables and action sheets are consistent with the adopted CIP and the adopted Bond and Alternative Financing Schedule . Excluding projects already underway ( such as CHATPEC and Maple View Field ) and joint Town / County projects ( Southern Park , Smith Middle Fields , Joint Town/County Open Space ) where the process has not yet been addressed , there are three parks projects in the PFP report encompassing . $ 2 . 3 million . As each project schedule is programmed and individual capital project ordinances are adopted , financial impacts will be addressed in detail for each project . RECOMMENDATION ( S ) : The Manager recommends that the Board : 1 ) adopt the revised Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan for fiscal years 2002- 2003 and 2003 - 04 , and instruct staff to proceed accordingly , and 2 ) discuss the Park Facility Plan ( PFP ) process and staff report ( including the proposed schedule and sequence of activities ) and address a desired schedule of park project activities . Once the schedule and needed actions are agreed upon , staff will bring the schedule and sequence of activities back for official Board approval in February . 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date : February 4 , 2003 Action Agenda. Item No . 5a- C. AL SUBJECT : Resolution in Support of " Eno Wilderness " Project DEPARTMENT : Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING : (Y/ N ) No Conservation ATTACHMENT INFORMATION CONTACT : 1 ) Resolution of Support David Stancil , 245 - 2590 2 ) Eno Wilderness Project Summary 3 ) Map of Planned Purchase TELEPHONE NUMBERS : Hillsborough 732 =8181 Chapel Hill 9684501 Durham 688 =7331 Mebane 336 =227 =2031 PURPOSE : To consider a resolution of support for the conservation of the " Eno Wilderness " , a project conducted by the N . C . Office of State Parks and the Eno River Association to acquire 815 acres of identified Natural Heritage lands along the Eno River in eastern Orange County . BACKGROUND : In November , the State of North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation ( Office of State Parks ) announced an option to acquire 815 acres of land along the Eno River in eastern Orange County . This land , a portion of what is commonly known as the " DuBose Tract contains hundreds of acres of identified Natural Heritage sites and chestnut oak forests , and is adjacent to the Eno River State Park . The Eno River Association works in partnership with N . C . State Parks to protect and purchase lands for the Eno River State Park . The Association assists the state through the establishment of landowner relations , conducting negotiations for property purchase , by negotiating and funding purchases of land that can be later transferred to the state park , by ittee for the Eno River State Park , and by assisting the park acting as the park advisory comm through trail workdays , or the purchase of necessary supplies or equipment . In this case , the Association is working to raise support for funding to acquire the property among State trust funds and its own members . To date , just over $ 2 million has been committed toward this purchase from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund ( PARTF ) , the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Eno River Association . 2 The remaining funding needed for the purchase is approximately $ 4 . 89 million (with a total project cost of approximately $ 6 . 89 million ) . Additional grant applications have been submitted to the N . C . Natural Heritage Trust Fund and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund that would cover the differential . The State ' s option to purchase expires on December 31 . 2003 . Additional details on the project may be found in the project summary submitted by the Eno River Association ( attached ) . The Association asks that the County endorse this effort , and a resolution of support has been drafted ( attached ) . The acquisition of this portion of the Dubose Tract is consistent with the goals and priorities of the Lands Legacy program , which seeks to conserve the County ' s highest priority natural and cultural resource lands . This land has long been identified as a critical natural area within the County . FINANCIAL IMPACT : None . The acquisition is being funded by the State , via current and proposed funds from the grant sources listed . A total of $ 2 , 007 , 207 has been committed to date , with $ 4 , 880 ,400 remaining . Grant requests have been submitted to address the reminder of funds needed . It is not known what course the State will pursue if funds are not allocated in the amounts requested toward this purchase ( $ 6 . 89 million in total , or $ 8 , 442 per acre ) . RECOMMENDATION ( S ) a The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached resolution of support and authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of Orange County . 28 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE ENO WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN WHEREAS , Orange County has a long - standing commitment to the preservation of natural and cultural resource lands ; and WHEREAS , the County formalized this commitment in April 2000 with the creation of the Lands Legacy program ; and WHEREAS , a priority of the Lands Legacy program is the partnership with and support of other agencies and non - profit conservation organizations toward the protection of critical resource lands ; and WHEREAS , the property know as the " Dubose Tract " has long been recognized as an important site of natural resource significance , signified by its inclusion in the N . C . Natural Heritage program and its proximity to the Eno River and the Eno River State Park ; and WHEREAS , the expansion of the Eno River State Park in this area is consistent with the park master plan and the Orange County Comprehensive Plan ; and WHEREAS , the State of North Carolina and the Eno River Association have joined efforts to acquire the " Eno Wilderness " , containing critical natural resource lands , and are seeking funds to acquire the site ; NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners endorses the Eno Wilderness project and the efforts of the N . C . State Parks and the Eno River Association toward that end . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners commends the grant submittals to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund , and asks that those agencies look favorably on the acquisition of this land of Statewide natural resource importance . This , the 41h day of February , 2003 Margaret - W . Brown , Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners ATTEST : Donna Baker Clerk to the Board 23 4 Eno River Association 4419 Guess Road Durham, NC 27712 91 % 620 . 9099 lori@enoriver. or9 www.enoriver. or9 Eno Wilderness Project Summaiy Size ; 815 acres Project Cost: $ 65887, 000 Funding committed. • NC Parks & Recreation Trust Fund $ 1 , 207, 808 • US Land & Water Conservation Fund $ 749 , 399 • Eno River Association 50 , 000 Total $ 2 , 007 , 207 Total funding needed: $ 4F%793 Potential additional funding sources (grant requests submitted) : • NC Clean Water Mgmt . Trust Fund $ 2 , 318 ,400 • NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund 2 562 000 Option expires . December 31 , 2003 The Eno Wilderness is one of the largest remaining undeveloped tracts in Orange County. Located adjacent to the Eno River State Park, and just a few miles from Durham, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, it lays in the center of an area under extreme development pressure . This 820- acre portion of the Eno Wilderness is a prime conservation tract . It has . • just over two miles of frontage on the Eno River • approximately 5 .4 miles of existing trail (logging roads) • four intermittent streams totaling approximately 2 . 812 miles • highest point near Eno River State Park, 732 feet above MSL, about 285 feet above the river • predominantly chestnut oak forest The Eno River Association is working to protect the entire length of the riparian comdor both for water quality and wildlife habitat . A substantial portion of the river has already been protected . 30 5 The purchase of the Eno Wilderness is a singular opportunity to protect a substantial wildlife habitat node on the river corridor, increasing the size of the Eno Rivet State Park by one- third of its current size. At the same time protecting a NC Natural Heritage area, hardwood forests and water quality in a rapidly developing urban area. It is the hope of the Eno River Association that the Orange County Commissioners wiIl endorse this conservation project as beneficial and desirable for the county. 31 0 6 r f do Pork{ 1 tr m Pro .� 1 I_ _ ._ _. _ , -- — - "-fir - ` — _ _ Pro, i t PO for pe For IF of / _ { OF �. L' Od OF or we It tN ' /� \G� i.V T JI POPt__.- 4. ' J I 11 "'4! =_ :mot' IoP PO POOL IF 1 iD? / f Lh } ' �/ •`. a ' ' oF Foo r 1 {:' / � iJ !1 C � � OF —' - -- - --- it i . _ ..__ . _ ..r I - - - �= - - , - t._ .. . � POP oof OP or P of For If Of 6 r/ rPOPP , , �. 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OF w r oorro� —_ p 1,� - � `. �— � S J , Pow too. fro TO Of, ri VPo- Pro bil it to y.Poor or. /' For for I w. o, 11 For or 0 OF - ---1 \ I + ` '� — `Fro. for OF ?lam `'' Y� 5 II' ; _ �� l" \— opomm, or or, POP 4.0 .. �'-♦ � Of OFF, P IF Eno Wilderness Pro ect + S° 0 Eno Wilderness Site 1 , ® Eno River State Park x 0 1000 2000 Feet �~► Iti Streets p = Cons.rvsa, DTwM8M Parcel Boundary_. _ .>�.>. 29. 2M i .. M Jones 32 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date : February 4 , 2003 Action Agenda Item No . SUBJECT : Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan for FY 2002 - 04 DEPARTMENT : Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING : (YIN ) No Conservation ATTACHMENT ( S ) : INFORMATION CONTACT : Revised Draft Annual Action Plan / Map David Stancil , 245 -2598 Rich Shaw , 245 -2591 TELEPHONE NUMBERS : Hillsborough 732 =8181 Chapel Hill 9684501 Durham 688 -7331 Mebane 336 -227 =2031 PURPOSE : To consider adoption of the Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan for fiscal years 2002 - 03 and 2003 -04 . BACKGROUND : On January 27 " , the Board reviewed and made revisions to the draft Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan 2002 - 04 . The Annual Action Plan was also reviewed by the Board on November 11 and December 2 , 2002 . At the January 27t' work session , the Board asked that the Action Plan (with changes ) be brought back for action as a consent agenda item . The attached Annual Action Plan would cover the 24 - month period from July 2002 - June 2004 , as requested by the Board on December 2 , 2002 . Clarifications made to the January 27th draft based on Board comments include : ➢ Further definition of the Joint County/Town Open Space item to include Town greenways and rustic trail connectors that link together important open space networks ; ➢ the linkage between the proposed Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail and the New Hope Corridor Master Plan ; ➢ clarification about proposed parkland purchases ( community parks of 25 - 74 acres ) ; ➢ the addition of a item in the priority table regarding coordination with Duke and UNC ; and ➢ high - lighting of the planned openings during the Action Plan timeframe for McGowan Creek Preserve and Little River Park . 33 2 Other comments and suggestions will be incorporated into the Parks Facility Plan ( PFP ) document or other appropriate documents or plans . FINANCIAL IMPACT : Funds to accomplish the Lands Legacy priority projects for FY 2002 - 2004 are present in the current CIP ( both existing year and programmed future years ) , including appropriations from the 2001 Parks and Open Space bond , alternative financing for conservation easements , and the Lands Legacy Opportunities Fund ( pay- as - you - go source ) . Where identified , the proposed funding source is listed in the attached Action Plan (Table 1 ) . 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 revised Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan for fiscal years 2002 -2003 and 2003 -04 , and instruct staff to proceed accordingly . r DRAFT 1/28/03 Landse • . Program Action . • • • • 4 For the period July 112002 - .tune 30, 2004 Introduction The Lands Legacy program , adopted by Orange County in April 2000, is initiated each year by the creation of an Annual Action Plan , The Annual Action Plan guides Lands Legacy acquisitions and land protection activities for the specified fiscal year . The process begins in August of each year, with staff identifying potential projects and asking for initial guidance . Staff then meets with advisory boards for their input on development of priorities for the coming year . Using the advisory board recommendations , a draft Plan is prepared for distribution to the Board of Commissioners at their annual goal - setting retreat . The Annual Action Plan is then finalized concurrent with the CIP process each spring . * - Note. For FY2002-0..3, the Annua/ Action P/an was withheld unti/ decisions about the CIP and bond saves were made, since these directly impact the Action Plan. The result is a two- year p/an, combining proposed actions for both FY2002-03 and FY2003-04. The past several months have seen a number of projects come to fruition , headed by the receipt of a $ 784, 155 grant from the USDA Farmland Protection Program in September . The following is a draft Annual Action Plan for the remainder of fiscal year 2002 - 2003 and the upcoming year ( please see note above ) . The plan incorporates comments from advisory boards last year, coupled with the continuation and completion of goals and objectives from the current action plan . The draft 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 year . Also attached is Performance Report for the first two years of the Lands Legacy Program ( 2000 - 2002 ) . June 2004 ' Goals for July 2002 ( Note : Plans to continue to pursue grant funding for County p rojects are implicit . ) 1 . Upper Eno and Upper New Hope Riparian Buffers : 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 Mill Historic Area : Acquire conservation easements to protect properties with historic structures and archaeological sites in the Faucette Mill area . 3 . Farmland Conservation Easements : Work with willing sellers (and partner entities ) to acquire farmland conservation easements in priority watersheds, in conjunction with federal Farmland Protection Program and NC Farmland Preservation Trust Fund . 4 . New Park Sites : Identify locations for potential land acquisition to establish community parks in the White Cross and North - Central Orange areas- - the two remaining parks identified in the 1988 Master Recreation and Parks Plan . Reassess 35 Lands Legacy Annua/Action P/an 2002-03 Dratt 1129103 park needs for the North -Central region given the current park development plans for Cedar Grove Park and Little River Regional Park . 5 . Work with Duke University and the University of North Carolina on formalizing protection of natural areas on university- owned property through conservation easements, state nature preserve dedication or other means . 6 . Natural Areas and Prime Forests : Protect the highest priority natural areas and prime forests identified in 1988117ventory ofNatura/ Areas and Wildlife Habitatand 1999 Landscape with Wiidiife report . 7 . Complete Stewardship Plans : Develop stewardship plans for each County- owned nature preserve and County- held conservation easement property . 8 . Heritage / Scenic Corridor Pilot Easement : Acquire a pilot project" conservation easement along a high - priority viewshed of the historic St . Marys Road corridor ( a portion of the Great Indian Trading Path ) . 9 . Joint Town / County Open Space : Partner 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 . Develop definitions of different types of trails, and address through Joint County/Town process document . Advisory Board Priorities and Comments A . Commission for the Environment ( CfE ) Continue efforts to protect Seven Mile Creek ( Natural Areas NO2/ 1\103 ) , Southern Shagbark Hickory Forest ( M16 ) , and Pickard 's Mountain ( M01 ) . Work with partners to protect Upper Eno River watershed critical areas , lands adjacent to Eno River State Park, and Upper New Hope Creek headwater . Protect all higher . priority Natural Area sites and consider all opportunities to protect riparian habitats and associated natural areas throughout the County—especially within the Little River and Morgan Creek corridors . B . Agricultural Preservation Board ( APB ) Continue purchasing farmland conservation easements from willing sellers . Focus on farms within the Cane Creek, University Lake , Back Creek and Upper Eno watersheds, and use new Agricultural Priority Area formula to evaluate potential easement farms . Attempt to build a critical mass of contiguous farm easements in those watersheds . Augment County funds by pursuing state grants (e . g . , FPTF, CWMTF ) and partnering with others ( e . g . , OWASA, Soil and Water District, Eno River Assoc . ) . Conduct more outreach to farm community . Consider co - locating a new agricultural center on land acquired for other purposes . C . Recreation and Parks Advisory Council ( RPAC ) Collaborate with OWASA on establishing county park( s ) on OWASA lands located outside Cane Creek watershed critical area . Pursue land acquisition 2 i� Lands LegacyAnnua/ Action Plan 2002 03 Draft 1129103 t > for establishing community parks at the two remaining areas recommended in Master Recreation and Parks Plan : White Cross and North - Central Orange . D . Historic Preservation Commission ( HPC ) Work with the owners of the Faucette Mill , Chatwood , Halls Mill House , and Smith - Cole House to protect the combination of historic and natural features on those properties . Consider the protection of other important historic and archaeological sites ( e . g . , Murphey School ) whenever possible . Protect " heritage corridors " and other areas of scenic value ( e . g . , St . Mary 's Road ) . Involve HPC in matters concerning historic structures on County- acquired lands . Allocate funds to protect historic structures on County property . Specific Acquisition Objectives The following are more specific acquisition objectives developed from existing plans , discussions with conservation groups and other 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 Protect (through acquisition or other means ) the higher priority Natural Areas identified in cooperation with the Commission for the Environment • Protect the highest priority prime forest areas identified in the 1999 Triangle Land Conservancy report, entitled A Landscape With WIld/ife; Part 2 (Wiley, Ludington and Hall ) • Continue working with Eno River Association and others to protect (through acquisition and other means) critical land for the Seven Mile Creek Preserve • 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 central county prime forest lands located in the Upper New Hope Creek watershed • Consider partnering with Carrboro on the acquisition of the "Adams Tract " located adjacent to Bolin Creek ( includes portion of identified natural area ) B . Farmland Preservation • Work with the USDA/ Natural Resource Conservation Service and Orange Soil and Water District, and/or OWASA, to identify and prioritize willing seller( s ) or donor(s) of conservation easements in Cane Creek, Upper Eno River, University Lake and Back Creek watersheds . (Where possible , build a critical mass of contiguous farm easements in these watersheds . ) • Preserve farmland that also contains riparian buffers to help meet multiple conservation objectives • Work with Soil and Water District/ Natural Resource Conservation Service to secure Farm Bill funds for acquiring conservation easements 3 37 Lands LegacyAnnua/Action Plan 2002-03 Dralt 1129103 • Apply for a grant from the NC Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for assistance in acquiring conservation easements C . Parklands and Open Space • Using existing plans and the comprehensive resource database, identify potential locations for future acquisition of park sites in the following areas . • White Cross Community Park • North - Central Orange Community park ( re assess parkneeds for this site, previously titled "Cedar Grove-Litt/e River Park • Acquire key " missing link" properties for proposed Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail ( linking Chapel Hill /Carrboro/ County parks with the New Hope Corridor, including Duke Forest and eventually Eno River State Park) • In all acquisitions, be cognizant of potential school site co - location and the potential for meeting other objectives for protection of riparian buffers , natural areas/wildlife habitat and historic/archaeological sites D . cultural and Archaeological Sites • Work with landowners in the Faucette Mill/Chatwood area to protect the combination of historic and natural features in that historic area • Work with the HPC and others to accomplish preservation of cultural and archaeological sites associated with parkland acquisitions • Protect some key initial priority location (s ) along "' heritage corridors " and areas of scenic value (e . g . , St . Mary's Road ) • Conduct research on known ( or potential ) historic and archaeological sites that may be candidates for protection ( e . g . , Murphey School ) E . Watershed Riparian Buffers • Work with the Eno River Association and others to protect riparian corridors in the Upper Eno River protected watershed • Follow- up as needed on the June 1 , 2002 grant application to NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund for protecting buffer lands in the Upper Eno watershed • Continue to work with Triangle Land Conservancy and Eno River Association to identify and protect priority areas in the New Hope Creek and Little River corridors • Work with the Morgan Creek Valley Alliance and others to identify priority areas for protection in the Morgan Creek corridor • Work with the Friends of Bolin Creek and others to identify priority areas for protection in the Bolin Creek corridor • Attempt to accomplish preservation of buffers in other water supply watersheds through parkland and farmland acquisitions 38 , 7 ~ 'd U U C cn cad r-. UO CJ1 �' � a b cd O • � O cn O d C) bU c0) O r 64 (=> M • ,4 o � � ' C � Q � •� � bap �, O M .� cd cd 9 O �' vOi .� cd . ". 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Orange County Comprehensive Plan , incorporating the results of Received a conservation easement the forthcoming update to the donation on 45 acres owned by Carl Inventory of Natural Areas and and Eve Shy ( Bingham Township ) . Wildlife Habitat . The easement will help protect natural area/wildlife habitat and 2 . Continue meeting with members prime farmland within the Cane of the Orange County Land Creek watershed critical area . Conservation Alliance twice a Collaborated with the Triangle Land year to discuss potential Conservancy on purchase of 35 - acre opportunities for collaboration on tract from Stanley and Carolyn conservation projects . Peele ( bargain sale ) to protect portion of identified Natural Area site 3 . Work with Duke University as an addition to TLC's Steep Bottom and the University of North Branch Nature Preserve . Carolina on formalizing the protection of natural areas Helped establish the Morgan Creek located on university properly . Valley Alliance, a new partnership in land conservation among entities 4 . Conduct outreach with civic interested in protecting natural and cultural heritage in the Morgan organizations, neighborhood Creek watershed . groups, and others to discuss Lands Legacy program and Applied for $ 1 million from the NC conservation options . Clean Water Management Trust Fund for acquisition of riparian 5 . Compile land acquisition inquiries buffers in the Upper Eno Watershed . and opportunities from landowners and other potential Applied for $ 788 , 900 from USDA partners , and present to the Farmland Protection Program Board 's for direction on whether to purchase conservation easements on three active farms . to pursue acquisition . 7 Lands L e9 �y a Annua/Action Plan 2002-04 Draft 1128103 ' Performance Report Result — Mapped potential alignment of Interim Action rustic woodland trail in consultation with Duke Forest Manager . Identified ' May 2000m June 2001 ' AN missing link properties , but took no action on acquisition/easements, The following priority projects were pending further consultation with BOCC . identified in the first (" Interim ' Action Plan adopted for the Lands 5 . Secure or acquire 25- 74 acres in Legacy program covering the period Bingham Township for community from May 3 , 2000 - June 30 , 2001a park, working to locate park on OWASA- owned lands if possible . 1 . Purchase land ( 100 - 200 acres) for Result — Worked with OWASA staff on establishing a district/ regional park identifying three potential park sites . between Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Report developed on " Mitigation Lands Hillsborough . Tract . " Consider additional Result - Purchased 193 acres owned by OWASA/County parkland opportunities . the Hunter (44 acres) and Cate families 6 . Acquire land in Eno Township or ( 149 acres with historic farmstead ) for Schley area for community park if no the proposed Chapel Hill Township other parks are otherwise identified District Park and Educational by December 2000 . Campus ( May/June 2001 ) . 2 . Purchase additional 25 - 60 acres at Result — Evaluated potential 200-acre park site donation for the proposed Northern Human Services Center to " Preserve " subdivision ( February 2001 ) . help convert from community park Subdivision proposal was withdrawn . to Cedar Grove District Park . Began negotiations for the potential Result — Developed pre - concept plans acquisition of Blackwood Farm . for future Cedar Grove Park . Unable 7 . Work with willing seller and OWASA to negotiate purchase of adjacent lands or Soil & Water District to acquire a in 2000 - 01 , but negotiations continuing pilot project farmland conservation on other adjacent lands easement, targeting the Cane Creek 3 . Purchase or protect lands in the watershed . Seven Mile Creek area , especially Result — Prepared conservation portions of identified natural areas . easement to protect farmland owned by Victor and Lucille Walters (Cedar Result - Acquired 134 acres from Mayes' Hill , Ltd . , including portion of Grove Township ) using $ 107 , 000 grant Natural Area site E02 , for the Seven ( 50 /o of cost) from NC Farmland Mile Creek Preserve (June 2001 ) . Preservation Trust Fund . ( Closed in July 2001s ) 4 . Map and acquire lands in pilot 8 . Consider other objectives as project trail linking Town parks, opportunities arise . Duke Forest, future County park and Eno River State Park . 8 Lands Le a Annua/ Action P/an 2002-04 Draft 1128103 g cy i Results : • Purchased the Orange County portion ( 136 acres) of the proposed The FY 2002 - 04 Annual Action Plan 391 - acre Little River Regional will Continue to build on the Park and Natural Area ( November acquisition projects of previous 71 2000 ) to be owned and managed years , with potential projects in each jointly with Durham County of the Lands Legacy priority areas [ Durham completed the purchase of ( natural areas, parkland , cultural its 255- acre portion in July 2001 ] resources , farmland easements and Received a grant of $ 262, 000 from watershed buffers . the federal Land and Water These efforts have placed the Conservation Fund for development of the Little River Regional Park County in position to open new and Natural Area ( October 2000) publicly- accessible lands such as McGowan Creek Preserve and Little • Began work on proposed River Park in the corning year . conservation easement donation by Carl and Eve Shy ( 45 acres in At the same time , a renewed Bingham Township) . Closed in emphasis is proposed on public October 2002 . outreach about the program , and • Commenced an update of Orange stewardship plans for lands in the County's Inventory of Natural program . Areas and Wildlife Habitat using The $ 5 , 000 grant from the NC Natural first two years of the program Heritage Program ( to be completed saw tremendous strides in in 2003 ) acquisitions of priority resource lands , with 794 acres currently • Held initial meetings of the Orange acquired and several more projects County Land Conservation in the works . This has in large part Alliance ( October 2000 and April enabled the County to essentially 2001 ) , bringing together staff from preserve one acre for every acre of partner entities in land conservation land that has been developed . to share information for potential collaboration on resource protection projects This Action Plan — begins to propose acquisition targets and resource protection opportunities for the new bond funds approved by voters in November 2001 . I � Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan ( Draft ) Priority Areas 2002 - 2004 lot North - Central; Orange Community Park . Walters � . Farm Farm Faucette Mill H , Historic Area rr. . s Seven Mile Creek Preserve y.. Northern Chapel HilltSina+ Rc'. r ' Township Rustic Trails New Hope Rustic Woodland Trail R0' (Segment) a� Cheek Farm _ Legend White Cross . Community Park Riparian Buffers Southern Shagbark Historic Cultural Hickory Forest Parkland Natural Areas N Farmland Orange County 4 Environment 3 Resource 4000 0 4000 t3000 Feet Conservation Department 1I28/03 B. Young w 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date : February 4 , 2003 Action Agenda Item No . SUBJECT : Legal Advertisement for February 24 , 2003 Quarterly Public Hearing DEPARTMENT : Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING : (YIN ) NO ATTACHMENT ( S ) : INFORMATION CONTACT : Craig Benedict , Planning Director , ext 2592 Proposed Legal Advertisement Robert P . Davis , Planner III , ext 2580 TELEPHONE NUMBERS : Hillsborough 732 =8181 Chapel Hill 968 =4501 Durham 688 =7331 Mebane 336 -227 -2031 PURPOSE : To receive authorization to submit the Quarterly Public Hearing Legal Advertisement for publication for the February 24 , 2003 quarterly public hearing . BACKGROUND : The next regular quarterly public hearing is scheduled for February 24 , 2003 . A summary of each item proposed for public hearing is provided . Staff is available to research and answer questions prior to the public hearing . A . ORANGE COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS 1 . Amend Article 6 to establish Outdoor Lighting Standards that preserve , protect , and enhance the use of public and private property through the use of appropriate lighting practices . 2 . Amend Article 6 . 23 . 7 Stream Buffers and Article 22 Definitions to broaden the methods for identification of streams that require buffers . Stream buffers are presently required only along streams identified on United States Geological Survey ( USGS ) topographic maps . A shortcoming of USGS maps is that they are based on aerial photography without accompanying field verification . The proposed ordinance change will also allow the use of maps in the Soil Survey of Orange County which are based on actual fieldwork . Mapping studies by the NC Division of Water Quality ( DWQ ) indicate the combined use of USGS and Soil Survey maps accurately depict the presence of streams approximately 95 % of the time . Additionally , the amendment will allow County staff who have received Surface Water Identification Training and Certification from DWQ to make a field determination of streams subject to stream buffers . 3 . Amend Article 23 ( Enforcement ) to revise enforcement procedures and define in greater detail how zoning violations are to be cited and carried through the enforcement process . 2 An increase in the civil penalty from $ 100 . 00 to $ 500 . 00 per violation is also a part of the amendment . B . ORANGE COUNTY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS TEXT AMENDMENTS 1 . Amend Section VI ( Legal Status Provision ) , Sub - section VIkE ( Penalties for Violation ) , to revise enforcement procedures and define in greater detail how violations are to be cited and carried through the enforcement process . An increase in the civil penalty from $ 50 . 00 to $ 500 . 00 per violation is also a part of the amendment . This amendment is a corollary to the proposed Zoning Ordinance text amendment ( item A . 3 ) . FINANCIAL IMPACT : There is no financial impact associated with this decision . Advertisement costs are included in the departmental budget for County initiated items . RECOMMENDATION ( S ) : The Administration recommends approval of the proposed February 241 2003 Quarterly Public Hearing legal advertisement . - - r ti, a ` - - _ MOO: - T M I IF I, IF7 L`: {LdI%- IF. 41 IF - Y = 7 l IF L I IF IF FdnF Vol . 14, No . 1 January-March 2003 Conservation Fund Collects Top Ratings Editorial: How we think and talk about ® Worth (worth. com) and Forbes (forbes . com / charities ) open space influences how we value it . magazines have rated The Conservation Fund as one of the nation's top charities in their year-end features on charitable giving . The American Institute of Philanthropy Small Tracts : Japanese researchers link ( charitywatch. org) also recognized The Conservation Fund longevi environmental organ ty and open space , Atlantans as the nation' s top enviization for the sec-IF envision parks in their future, and the and year in a row . The Fund earned an A+ rating from AIP for spending 97% of its funds on programs while keeping European Union sees a future in greenhouse fundraising costs to 1 % . gas trading . ® The Conservation Fund has transferred 3,225 acres of forestland to the state of Florida for addition to Goethe Corporate Notes : Louisiana Pacific sells State Forest . Acquisition of th $2 .4 million inholding in thousands of acres for Texas refuge, and an Levy County, which the state has sought for years, has Oregon utility agrees to dismantle hydro helped link isolated tracts of the 11 -year-old state forest . It also provides habitat for the Florida black bear . The Con- dams to restore salmon runs . See Fund Protects page 3 Remembrance : Wallace Dayton helped save land and develop a new generation of conservation leaders . Big Year for Land Conservation ® Voters approved 139 of 187 conservation ballot mea- Reading: Releasing the inner hero within us . sures in 2002, generating $5 . 7 billion for land protection . On Nov . 5 alone, voters OK' d 94 of 111 conservation Thank you : COMMON GROUND thanks its ballot measures in 23 states, which earmarked $2 . 9 billion readers for their year-end contributions . to acquire and restore land for parks and open space . Cali- fornians led the nation in open space funding last year by passing two huge bond measures . The Proposition 50 wa- Conservation Fund News : Fund celebrates ter bond, approved by 55 % of voters in November, latest land protection efforts in Maryland and devoted $1 . 5 billion of the $3 . 4 billion total to open space launches Chesapeake Bay Initiative to protect protection. The November vote followed the March 5 another 100, 000 acres in the bay watershed . approval of the $2 . 6 billion Proposition 40, the largest park and environmental bond measure in U . S . history. In the only other statewide votes on open space fund- ing in November, Nevadans voted to spend $89 .5 million See Land Conservation, page 7 COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 NO. 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2O03 Great shifts in public climate are often basic installations or facilities upon which Words marked by changes in nomenclature . This is the continuance and growth of a community r one reason why we are hearing the term depends . " People understand the need to Matte green infrastructure more and more often. invest in infrastructure—even ;n an era of For decades people who were deaf, blind deficits . Next to national defense, funding or confined to a wheelchair were referred to for roads, bridges, sewers, airports and other as "handicapped . " It was understood that forms of capital infrastructure is always at they couldn't do what other people could . In the top of the list . However, just as we must the 1970s this perception began to change . carefully plan for and invest in our capital Instead of focusing solely on the "handicap , " infrastructure, so too must we invest in our people began to think about the "person with environmental or green infrastructure . disabilities rather than the disability itself. Green infrastructure is the ecological We came to understand that they could framework needed for environmental, pretty much do what anybody else could social and economic sustainability . It is our do—with accommodation. The results of a nation' s natural life support system. Green simple shift in perception are all around us . infrastructure is an interconnected network Today the economy is lagging and bud- of green space that conserves natural ecosys- gets are tight. Open space funding is on the tern, values and functions and provides a �- - chopping block. This is because the public wide array of benefits to people, wildlife ., _ : ens ace is a and communities . For example, green infra- - : and local officials think o � :a -0� luxury they can no longer pafford . They think structure reduces a community' s susceptibil- is published quarterly as a service to the conservation of it as an amenity, something that is n ity to floods, fires and other natura isas- ice to community by have . However, the same people understand ters . Documenting these public benefits is a The Conservation Fund that infrastructure is a necessity, not an ame- key step toward securing adequate funding . Patrick F. Noonan pity; something that communities must have, Words matter . I believe a shift in no- Chairman Lawrence A. Selzer not just something that is nice to have . We menclature from talking about open space to President view infrastructure as a primary public in- talking about green infrastructure will help Mike McQueen vestment, not something we pay for with communities understand that green space is Editor leftover money . Likewise, public officials a basic necessity that should be planned and Jack Lynn understand that infrastructure must be con- developed as an integrated system . A popu- Editorial Consultant Meg West stantly upgraded and maintained . It is not lax bumper stickers says " If you think e u- Art Director something we just buy and forget . Finally, cation is expensive, try ignorance . " Well, if we all know that infrastructure must be you think green space is expensive, just For address corrections and information, contact: developed as a system, not as isolated parts . imagine the future costs for clean air, clean April Berry One way to change this perception of water and healthy natural systems if we Circulation Manager open space as an amenity is to change the don't invest in green infrastructure today . The Conservation Fund —Edward McMahon 1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120 nomenclature . Webster s New World Dictio- Arlington, VA 22209 nary defines infrastructure as "the substruc- The author is vice president for land use 703 /525-6300 tune or underlying foundation, especially the programs at The Conservation Fund . COMMON GROUND routinely grants permission for reprints . Address editorial correspondence and reprint queries to: COMMON GROUND ,�,g tt1 f. �� t?-�x .a�` 940 Stillwater Lane 4 Earlysville, VA 22936 434 / 973-7324 coground®aol.com COMMON GROUND is available on the World Wide Web at �A . wwww.conservationfund.org ZIL Printed on recycled paper. ,r-` • $ �" �1 i; O U O GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AT r - WORK ,>s,� sx . . t3 + _ - " s O COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 N0. 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2O03 • O2 10= 0 Fund Protects, from page 1 seven national forests, and state, corporate servation Fund purchased the land from an and private lands while providing a wildlife institutional forest investment fund advised corridor for elk, grizzly bear and big horn by UBS Timber Investors . sheep . "Ronald Strickland ' s extraordinary Ronald vision, passion and leadership created a ® The Conservation Fund has partnered national treasure for this and future genera- StrZClCland 'S with the Vermont Land Trust to protect a tions, " said Jessica Catto , president of the extraordinary 113-acre terraced forest in the northeastern Catto Foundation . The award, administered vision , passion and part of the state . Brunswick Springs, a by The Conservation Fund, was presented seasonal settlement and burial ground for Oct. 28 during the Land Trust Alliance' s leadership created Native Americans, sits atop a 150400t bluff Rally in Austin, Texas . The award is the a national treasure above the Connecticut River in Essex largest given to honor individual volunteer for this and future County. The Abenaki tribe sold a conserva- accomplishments in land conservation. tion easement on the land to the Fund to en- generations . sure its long-term protection. The easement ® Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn .) and his Jessica Catto will be held by the trust. Native Americans neighbors have donated an easement on 769 and 19th century spa visitors have used wa- acres in Blount County to protect two miles ters from the springs for healing . of the boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Conservation Fund and ® A 17-year effort to connect the Pinhoti the Foothills Land Conservancy will hold Trail in Alabama to the Appalachian Trail the easement, thought to be the largest in (AT) has reached a milestone with the state history from private parties . The land completion of the 100-mile trail from the is part of Blackberry Farm, which in 1986 Talladega National Forest to the Georgia hosted the organizational meeting of the state line . Michael Leonard, founder of the President' s Commission on Americans Out- Alabama Trails Association who has long doors , which Alexander chaired . Fund board sought to link the trails, said that only a members who first met at the meeting were 25-mile gap in Georgia remains . The Con- Gilbert Grosvenor, chairman of the National servation Fund has helped acquire land for Geographic Society; Charles Jordan, director the Alabama trail and continues efforts with of Portland (Ore . ) Parks and Recreation; and the Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association to Patrick Noonan, the Fund ' s chairman. Gift complete the Georgia section . Leonard of the easement is an outgrowth of a conser- serves on the Fund's National Council . vation master plan created by the Fund ' s Center for Conservation and Development . ® The Conservation Fund welcomes six Designed by Douglas Horne, director of the Gift of the members to its advisory councils . George Fund ' s Land Advisory Services, the plan is a easement is an Mead, former chairman of Consolidated national model for environmentally based outgrowth of Papers; and Barry Perry, chairman and chief limited development. executive of Engelhard Corp . , joined the conservation Fund ' s Corporate Council . National Council ® A 15-acre site that the Richard King master plan members include Barbara Brunckhorst, Mellon Foundation donated to the state of created by the founder of the Brunckhorst Foundation; Montana has yielded evidence that Lewis Susan Feith, executive director of the Mead and Clark camped there in the early 1800s . Fund 's Center for Witter Foundation; Robert Marston, presi- The site is the core holding of the new Trav- Conservation and dent of Robert Marston and Associates; and elers' Rest State Park, managed by the Trav- Development . Leonard Silverstein, co-founder of the elers' Rest Preservation and Heritage Asso- Silverstein and Mullens law firm. ciation ( travelersrest. org) . Last summer, ar- chaeologists found what appeared to be a la- ® The Catto Charitable Foundation has trine by finding high concentrations of mer- awarded the architect of the 1,200-mile cury in a trench. The researchers had theo- Pacific Northwest Trail with the American rized correctly that the latrine would contain Land Conservation Award and the accom- traces of mercury from Dr . Rush' s Thunder- panying $50,000 grant . Ronald Strickland bolts, a medicine used by the explorers . Ar- of Seattle, Wash. , has spent three decades chaeologists also found a fire hearth, lead working with business and government to musket balls and congealed pools of lead develop the trail, which parallels the U . S . - where the ammunition was evidently made . Canada border from Olympic National Park The Conservation Fund has assisted in pro- in Washington to Glacier National Park in tecting 11 properties considered significant Montana . It connects three national parks, for the preservation of the explorers' journey . r it COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 NO. 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2O03 ISM S M A L L The most comprehensive analysis of devel- Urban sprawl, deforestation and other The Conservation Fund opment in the U. S . has ranked the River- major changes in land use caused by hu- Vital Statistics side-San Bernardino area in California as the mans may affect climate change more than Land protected by TCF most sprawling of 83 metro areas examined . the accumulation of heat-trapping gases like and partners, 2002: "Measuring Sprawl and Its Impacts " (smart carbon dioxide, a new report argues . Acres protected: 227,454 growthamerica . org) , by Smart Growth "Through land cover changes over the last Est. value: $168,971,889 America, is based on a three-year study by 300 years, we may have already altered the Land protected, 1985-2002, researchers at Cornell and Rutgers universi- climate more than would occur . . . with the by TCF and partners : ties . The report used 22 variables to rate radiative effect of a doubling of carbon diox- Acres protected : 3,387,760 metro areas on four aspects of their develop- ide, " said Roger Pielke of Colorado State Est. value: $1 ,811,646,653 ment: residential density; neighborhood mix University, lead author of "The Influence of TCF has received top of homes, jobs and services; strength of activ- Land-Use Change and Landscape Dynamics ratings from the American ity centers and downtowns; and accessibility on the Climate System: Relevance to Cli- Institute of Philanthropy for of the street network . Overall scores on all mate-Change Policy Beyond the Radiative its program effectiveness four indicators averaged 100, with lower Effect of Greenhouse Gases " (blue . atmos . and 1 % fund-raising scores indicating more sprawl and higher colostate . edu) . The large-scale, human- expense. scores less sprawl. Following Riverside-San caused changes in land use in Europe, North The Conservation Fund Bernardino ( 14 . 2) on the most sprawled list America and Southeast Asia redistribute is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit were Greensboro, N . C . (46 . 8 ) , Raleigh, N. C . heat regionally and globally within the at- organization established to advance land and water (54 . 2) , Atlanta, Ga . (57 . 7) , Greenville, S . C . mosphere, potentially affecting surface tem- conservation in America. (58 . 6 ) , and West Palm Beach, Fla . (67 . 7) . The peratures, precipitation and climate more The Fund is a member of least sprawled were New York, N .Y . ( 177. 8) , than greenhouse gas increases that are the Earth Share and participates Jersey City, N .J . (162 . 3) , Providence, R. I . focus of many policy makers and scientists, in the Combined Federal (153 . 7) , San Francisco, Calif. ( 146 . 8) , and the scientists argue . The researchers propose Campaign as #0930. Honolulu, Hawau (140 . 2) . a new method of measuring impacts of both greenhouse gases and land cover changes .Earth Share The Environmental Protection Agency to quantify the amount of heat that is redis- recently presented its first annual National tributed from one area to another . Awards for Smart Growth Achievement Conservation Leadership (epa . gov / smartgrowth) to the state of The United States ranked lowest among Courses Massachusetts and localities in California, 147 countries for its inefficient water usage "The Practice of Environ- Colorado and Virginia . Massachusetts was but 32nd overall on the first World Poverty mentally Sensitive honored for creating the Community Preser- Index created by international reseachers Development Online," vation Initiative, which provides state and water professionals . The index (www . Feb . 6—March 5 . Anne matching grants, "build-out" maps and fiscal worldwatercouncil . org) , released by the Desmarais, 703 / 525-6300 . impact tools to the state ' s 351 communities United Kingdom' s Centre for Ecology and " GIS Design for Regional to demonstrate what current and alternative Hydrology and the World Water Council, Conservation Planning," zoning and planning scenarios produce . The precedes the 3rd World Water Forum, to be March 10-14. Shepherds- City / County Association of Governments of held in March in Kyoto, Japan . The index town, W.Va. 304 / 876-7452 . San Mateo County, Calif. , was cited for de- rates the countries in five water-related ar- "The Practice of Environ- voting $5 . 2 million in state transportation eas—usage, access, resources, capacity and mentally Sensitive funds to encourage new housing near rail environmental impact. Scoring highest over- Development, " April 8-9 . 800 / 321-5011e stations based on incentives of up to $2,000 all were Finland, Canada, Iceland, Norway per bedroom. In Colorado, the town of and Guyana, while Haiti, Niger, Ethiopia, "Building Partnerships Breckenridge was honored for the restora- Eritrea and Malawi ranked lowest. The U .S . Between Gateway Commu- tion and conversion of 42 acres of mining ranked sixth in environmental impact, but nities and Public Lands . (Interactive TV Workshop) . land into a 122-11nit affordable housing scored lower in resources because of the March 20 . 304 / 876-7462 . neighborhood with 20 acres of parks and scarcity of water in the West . The dead-last open space . And Arlington County, Va . , in score on usage reflected the nation' s massive suburban Washington, D . C . , was cited for its consumption of water in agriculture coupled success in encouraging clustered, mixed- with the sector' s tiny contribution to the used development at five Metro stations that gross domestic product. The U . S . also ranks has gained 2,500 apartments and condos, 1 . 5 high in per capita domestic water use and million square feet of office space, 379,000 volume of water per dollar of industrial pro- square feet of retail space, and five miles of duction, making the U . S . the world' s highest bike lanes in three years . per capita water consumer . tZ COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 Noe JANUARY-MARCH2O03 181 T R A T S The 15 member countries of the European 62. 9 million in 1996 and increased to 66 . 1 Union (europa . eu. mt) agreed on Dec . 9 to million in the new survey . The U . S . Census create the largest emission trading market in Bureau contacted 80 ,000 households for the the world to help combat global warming . survey, with follow-up interviews with The agreement sets the stage for the EU to 45,000 people . meet a 2010 target under the Kyoto Protocol of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8 % A Japanese study of more than 2,200 senior compared with 1990 levels . As of 2000, EU citizens has linked longevity with access to emissions had been cut by 3 . 5 %, mostly walkable green spaces such as parks and through efforts by Germany and the United tree-lined streets . Living in areas with Kingdom . Under the emission trading walkable green spaces positively influenced scheme, absolute limits will be placed on the longevity of urban senior citizens even carbon dioxide emissions from specific ir1- after taking into consideration their age, sex, The researchers Trading of emis- marital status, functional status and socioeco- suggest that dustries beginning in 2005 . sion allowances are projected to cut the costs nomic status, the researchers found . A posi- accessible of meeting the targets by 35 % as companies five attitude toward one ' s community also greenery filled that surpass their pollution targets through led to a longer life , according to "Urban Resi- low-cost measures sell unused pollution al- dential Environments and Senior Citizens ' public areas should lowances to companies that need them. Longevity in Megacity Areas : The lmpor- be emphasized in tance of Walkable Green Spaces, " which urban planning . The United States lost more than 6 million appeared in the Journal of Epidemiology and acres of farmland to development between Community Health (jech.bmijournals . com / 1992 and 1997, and the rate of loss is acceler- cgi / content / full / 56 / 12 / 913) . The research- ating, the American Farmland Trust reports . ers suggest that accessible greenery-filled Texas led the nation in the amount of high- public areas should be emphasized in urban quality farmland lost, followed by Ohio, planning . Health, construction, civil engi- Georgia, North Carolina and Illinois, accord- neermg, planning, and other sectors should mg to "Farming on the Edge : Sprawling collaborate in developing and implementing Development Threatens America' s Best urban policy to promote the health of senior Farmland (farmland . org) . Other findings : citizens, they said . From 1982 to 1997, the U . S . population grew 17%, while urbanized land mushroomed Atlanta should raise $400 million by 2012 to 47% . Over 20 years, the acreage per person acquire a signature 500-acre park and double for new housing has almost doubled . And the size of the city' s 3, 122-acre park and since 1994, housing lots over 10 acres have greenspace system, according to a mayoral accounted for 55 % of the land developed in task force report . Mayor Shirley Franklin' s the nation. The study includes national and Parks and Green Spaces Task Force Report state maps of farmland at risk of develop- (parkpride . org) , which was released in No- ment as well as a ranking of the top 20 states vember, concluded that the city' s depart- The recommenda - by acreage of prime farmland already lost . ment of parks is " dysfunctional, " and needs tions are aimed to be replaced with an independent Atlanta at rectZfling Americans spent $108 billion in 2001 on Park District with taxing and bonding au- hunting, fishing, birdwatching and other thority patterned after the Chicago Park Atlanta S low wildlife-based recreation, the Fish and Wild- District . The recommendations are aimed at rankings in terms life Service reports . Hunting and fishing rectifying Atlanta' s low rankings in terms of of park acres per continue to decline in popularity while wild- park acres per 1 ,000 residents (7.5 compared life watching is on the rebound since 1991 , with a national average of 13 .4) and park 1 , 000 residents . according to the "2001 National Survey of acreage as a percentage of the city (3 . 7% Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated compared with an 11 % national average ) . Recreation" (federalaid . fws . gov), the 10th The $400 million in park funding would mil- come from a $200 million bond referendum survey since 1955 . But the nation' s 34 . 1 lion anglers (-1 .5 million since 1991 ) and 13 in 2004 that would be matched by $ 200 mil- million hunters (-Ll million) boosted infla- lion raised from the business and philan- tion- adjusted spending to $70 billion from thropic sectors, such as the effort by the5 $53 million a decade ago . Wildlife watchers Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to fund numbered 76 . 1 million in 1991 , dipped to up to $30 million in green space projects . 5 COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 NO. 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2O03 ® Louisiana Pacific (LP) has sold 2,983 acres and donate 1 ,500 acres that will open up 6 of forestland in Texas to The Conservation miles of habitat and improve flows along 15 Fund, which transferred the land to the Fish miles of waterway that have been blocked and Wildlife Service for addition to Trinity to salmon and steelhead for a century . The River National Wildlife Refuge . LP plans to agreement commits the utility to remove sell 1 ,310 acres in January to further expand the 47400t high Marmot Dam on the Sandy the refuge in Liberty County . The first acqui- River in 2007, the 16-foot Little Sandy Dam sition includes bottomdand hardwood forest, on the Little Sandy River in 2008 and the bayous and cypress ponds in the lower Trin- remainder of the 22-megawatt hydro project ity River floodplam, a focal point for protec- by late 2009 . The utility land, to be trans- tion by the agency since the 1980s . ferred to the Bureau of Land Management Since 1990, 3M and other agencies for permanent protec- has cut emissions ® Keep America Beautiful (kab . org) has tion, will form the core of a proposed 5,000- 0 volatile or anic honored 3M (3M . com) with a Vision for acre wildlife and recreation area . f g America award for the company' s long- compounds by standing interest in environmental perfor- ® Johnson & Johnson has announced the 91 % and reduced mane . 3M broke new ground in the mid- winners of its Worldwide Environmental landfilling of solid 1970s by adopting a global environmental Excellence Awards for 2002 . The awards rec- waste b 12 % . policy and pollution prevention program. ognize environmental achievements in per- t' Since 1990, it has cut emissions of volatile formance, leadership and innovation within organic compounds by 91 % and reduced the company and its subsidiaries that dem- landfilling of solid waste by 12% . Green- onstrate the company' s commitment to house gas emissions from its manufacturing sustainability . Among the winners : plants have dropped by one-third since 1995 . Noramco of Athens, Ga . , for environmental performance, Cordis , of Warren, N .J . , for ® Portland General Electric (portland environmental innovation; and Ethicon general . com) agreed in October to dismantle Endo- Surgery of Cincinnati, Ohio, for two working hydroelectric dams in Oregon environmental leadership . 10 Wallace Dayton 1921 -2002 Wallace Dayton was a quiet giant of oped a new generation of leaders of non- the American conservation movement. As profit environmental groups, including chairman of The Nature Conservancy board Geoffrey Barnard, president of Grand in the 1970s, he laid the foundation, through Canyon Trust; Spencer Beebe, founder and He truly believed his vision and leadership , for the organza- president of Ecotrust; George Fenwick, y tion that it is today. I was privileged to president of American Bird Conservancy, that our purpose serve as president of the conservancy dur- John Flicker, president and chief executive on earth was to ng that time and was inspired by his un- of National Audubon Society; Robert leave a better lace paralleled passion for land conservation. Jenkins, founder of The Biodiversity Insti- p He truly believed that our purpose on earth tute, Huey Johnson, founder of the Trust for our children . was to leave a better place for our children. for Public Land; Ken Margolis, president of From 1987 to 1997, Wally Dayton River Network; Steve McCormick, president served as a board member for The Conser- and chief executive of The Nature Conser- vation Fund, one of our early directors . His vancy; Jon Roush, former president of The thoughtful leadership pioneered new prac- Wilderness Society; Peter Seligmann, chair- tices in land conservation, which balanced man and chief executive of Conservation business and environmental interests . Un- International, and Michael Wright, former der his guidance, we protected more than 2 president and chief executive of the African million acres across America. His service as Wildlife Foundation. a member on the boards of six national con- There are few people in his generation servation organizations, including The Con- who had a greater effect both on the land servation Fund, is testimony to the signifi- he helped to conserve and the young cant role that he played in the evolution of conservationists, including myself, whom conservation in this country. he inspired . Beyond his interest in organizational —Patrick F . Noonan, development, Dayton in the 1970s devel- chairman, The Conservation Fund 52 COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 N0. 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2O03 Land Conservation , from page 1 (landvote . org) , the annual tally by the Trust and Virginia $36 . 5 million for open space for Public Land and the Land Trust Alliance . preservation,. according to LandVote 2002 Other measures approved Nov . 5 . Location Amount (in millions) Yea/Nay M Nevadans voted AAA AAA AAAA -' 1 . __ ._ ___.�� � --- - _- ' r_��1 to spend $ 89 . 5 1 Southhampton, N.Y. $200 _ _ 70 / 30 East Hampton, N.Y. $95 A A 69 / 31 million and Brookhaven, N.Y. $20 70 / 30 Virginia $ 36 . 5 Northhampton County, Pa. $37. 65 / 35 Massachusetts 7 local measures $12 64 / 36 million for open space preservation . u Charleston County, S. C. $221 .5 50.4 / 49 . 6 Collier County, Fla. $63. 7 59 /41 Flagler County, Fla. _ k, : ;MIDWEST r AAAAAAAA 44 $6 7 7 26 4 AAAWAA Dakota County, Minn. $20 57 / 43 Kendall County, Ill $5 64 / 36 — r- - - y , i -., - - - -- .-._-- - -- Coconino County, Ariz. $19 . 8 -- �_-- ---�-�- 61 / 39 Fort Collins, Colo . $ 120 65 / 35 Eagle County, Colo . $65 50 .2 /49 . 8 Maui County, Hawaii $20 73 / 27 Lake Oswego, Ore. $4.5 57/ 43 Source: LandVote 2002, (landvote. org) • a The Hero 's Trail . the right choice at the right moment? T . A. A Guide for a Heroic Life Barron' s tales of young and old heroes, the by T.A . Barron mythical and real, examine why some of us Philomel Books, New York (800/788- 6262) , walk the path of the hero while others don' t. Barron, a member of the Funds National 2002 , 131 pp . Cloth: $ 14 . 99 . Council, also has created a prize for heroic What makes a hero? Courage, perserverance, young people (barronprize . org) . The Conservation Fund would like to thank the following recent contributors to the COMMON GROUND Research Fund: David Ackerman Robert Darrow Christopher Graham Geary Mizuno Clinton Townsend Kenneth Berlin Charles Deknatel Henry Gray Letitia Morris Richard & Susan Van Frank John Blomberg Kathleen Donaghue & Noel Grove Francis Moul Edward Voss Winifred Brand Kimball Simpson Otto & Debra Gutenson Mark Myers Ann Wait Bill & Peg Briney Ross Dring Thomas Haensly W . Kent Olson Frank Webster Barbara Brown William Elliott Steven Hamburg Hugh Pallister Jr . William Webster Lindsey Cadot William Flournoy Jr . Edmund Healy Duncan Patten Gary Werner John Carlock David Fluharty Scot Heath Harrison Payne Meg & David West David Carrington Henrietta Forcanser William Holman David & Joyce Raymes Joan Whitney Ronald Castle Michael Fotos Alix Hopkins Ala Reid Andrew Wilbur Sandra Cleisz David Fox Robert Houck Kenneth Ribbeck Elsa Williams Diane Collier Margot Garcia Robert Huckins Michael Roeder Nancy Hamill Winter Mr. & Mrs . Walter Elizabeth Garst Michael Huxley Delphine Sanks Mark Wyckoff Cook Robert Glennon Sally & Richard Jacobs Rudy & Mary Savala Charlie Creighton Hellmut Gode Michael & Julie Keathley Paul Schauer Dorothy Keough John Scott 109 donors gave $5,805 to the COMMON Berthe Ladd Michael & Susan Seeland GROUND Research Fund in 2002. If you Ney Landrum Richard Smaby would like to make a gift, please do. Send Philip Levin Julianne Steffens your check c/ o The Conservation Fund, Joseph Mahony II John Strickler 1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120, Arlington, VA Susanna Mansfeld Marjory Swope Peggy McNeill Evelyn Tapani-Rosenthal 22209-2156 . Sara & Ned Meekins Elizabeth Tilbury COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 NO . 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2O03 ' A Maryland, Chesapeake Bay Protection Expands ® The Conservation Fund has completed legacy area, easements on 16 farms covering 100 land preservation projects in Maryland 4,500 acres have been acquired, including that have protected more than 100,000 acres . 16 miles of undeveloped shoreline in the In reaching the milestone, the Fund an- Chincoteague Bay area . The easements are nounced a new Chesapeake Bay Initiative, held by the Lower Shore Land Trust and the which will protect an additional 100,000 Maryland Environmental Trust. acres in the bay watershed by 2010 . The The Fund 100th project, the protection of 687 acres in ® More than 25,000 acres of working forest the Nanticoke River watershed, is part of the and wildlife habitat in southern Maryland announced a new state' s Rural Legacy Program, which irate- and its Eastern Shore will be protected un- Chesapeake Bay grates smart conservation with smart devel- der a purchase by The Conservation Fund, Initiative, which opment . In conjunction with the acquisition, together with its partners, Glatfelter Corp . , the Fund is working with the community of the state of Maryland and the Forestland will protect an Vienna to create a mc� � LLt phai f-iiat fasters Group . Under the agreement, the Forestland additional 100, 000 growth while preserving the town ' s charac- Group will purchase 21 ,766 acres of acres in the bay ter . The plan, which will conserve natural Glatfelter' s forestland subject to a conserva- areas and support the town' s ecotourism, is tion easement purchased by the state, which watershed by a model for future projects of the Fund ' s will ensure that sustainable forest practices 2010 . Center for Conservation and Development. are used . The Fund will acquire the remain- ing acreage from Glatfelter for transfer to the ® Maryland, Worcester County and The state for permanent protection. Conservation Fund are nearing the one= third point in their 10-year effort to preserve ® Matching funds from Bass Pro Shops and 15,400 acres of farmland to create a 70,000- the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation acre swath of land linking E . A . Vaughn Wild- recently helped former Conservation Fund life Management Area and Pocomoke State president John Turner raise $ 100,000 for land Forest . Using $5 million in grants from the projects in the Chesapeake Bay Conservation state ' s Rural Legacy Program, the Fund as- Challenge . Turner, an assistant secretary at sisted the county in securing nine easements the State Department, celebrated his 60th in 2002 and 16 overall in the 4-year history of birthday by running in his first marathon in the project ift the Coastal Bay Rural Legacy Arlington, Va . , on Oct. 28 and soliciting do- Area . The coastal bays are part of the Envi- nations for the challenge . As president of the ronmental Protection Agency's National Fund ( 1993-2001 ) , he was the architect of the Estuary Program and fall within the Atlantic Chesapeake Bay Challenge, which has raised Flyway, one of four key migratory bird $400,000 for conservation projects in Virginia, routes in the United States . Within the rural Maryland and Pennsylvania . T8TS - 8LZLZ ON ' HE) nudOSSIIIH T8T8 XOS Od id IG \d 3SNOD SI \i '8 \d ! 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