HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2022-003 Conservation Easement on Draper-Savage Memorial Foundation (Moorefields) and Approval of Budget Amendment #7-A ORD-2022-003
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 1, 2022
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-a
SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Conservation Easement on Draper-Savage Memorial
Foundation (Moorefields) and Approval of Budget Amendment #7-A
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks
and Recreation (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1 . Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 245-2510
2. Location Map Christian Hirni, 245-2514
3. Site Map
4. Draft Conservation Easement(s)/Trail
Easement
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by Orange
County of conservation easement(s) and trail easement for Draper Savage Memorial Foundation
(Moorefields) property, and approve Budget Amendment #7-A.
BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important natural
and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of
Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy Program. Since 2001, the County has
partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,850 acres of significant natural areas
and prime farmland with permanent conservation easements, leveraging well over $3 million in
outside funding and grants toward these easements.
Over the past several years, DEAPR has worked with Moorefields Foundation, the group deeded
to manage and caretaker of the grounds, on a project to conserve approximately 72 acres of
Draper-Savage Memorial Foundation lands located on Moorefields Road in the Cheeks Township.
The farm property is located in the Upper Eno Critical Watershed, a priority watershed for
acquiring agricultural easements in a dual effort to protect prime farmland and drinking water
quality. The farm has over 1,900 linear feet of stream frontage on a tributary to and of Rocky Run,
a major tributary of the Eno River, which supplies drinking water for the Town of Hillsborough and
City of Raleigh. In addition, with the presence of Natural Heritage sites, the historic Moorefields
property and other areas of high cultural/archaeological significance, and the property's adjacency
to the County-owned Seven Mile Creek Natural Area, conservation of this tract is a high priority
for the Lands Legacy Program.
The Moorefields Foundation intends to grant permanent conservation easement(s)that will restrict
future development to protect prime open space and streams, as well as scenic views of the open
space from Moorefields Road and the adjacent County park. The Foundation also intends to grant
a trail easement for the Mountains to Sea Trail, allowing for further extension from the County
owned lands east towards Dimmocks Mill Road. All other non-agricultural and historical
restoration/renovation development rights will be extinguished through the conservation
easement.
There will be three separate yet concurrent easements on the property. The Natural Heritage Area
and stream buffers will be held in easement by the North Carolina Land and Water Fund
(NCLWF), and monitored by the Eno River Association through State contract. The remaining
open lands planned conservation easements would be held jointly by Orange County and the Eno
River Association. This easement would enhance the protection of this historic home and
grounds, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail easement will be
held by Orange County with planning, management, and construction assistance with the Friends
of the Mountains to Sea Trail.
The planned conservation easement areas are depicted on the attached site map. The draft deeds
of conservation easement and the trail easement are also provided.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The appraised value of the conservation easement is $360,000, which was
determined with an appraisal by Kirkland Appraisals, LLC.
The purchase price for the conservation easement is $360,000, the full appraised value.
Additional costs, including closing and transactional costs, bring the estimated total at closing to
$385,500.
DEAPR worked with the Eno River Association to identify the following funding sources:
Orange County (Lands Legacy) $ 261,458 (68%)
NC Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) $ 111,042 (29%)
Eno River Association (Triangle Community Foundation grant) $ 13,000 (3%)
$385,500
(acquisition and
transaction)
Funds for the easement purchase would come from Orange County ($248,958 purchase price
plus $12,500 for survey, legal and closing costs), NCLWF ($111,042 purchase price), and Triangle
Community Foundation ($13,000 for transaction costs).
The County's share of funds ($261,458) would come from existing funds budgeted and approved
for the Lands Legacy Program (Land Legacy Fund).
The following funding sources support the easement outside of financial impact to Orange County:
NCLWF ($8,618 stewardship), City of Raleigh ($7,152 for stewardship), and Eno River
Association ($2,500 in-kind match for Baseline Report).
The Draper-Savage Memorial Foundation property is enrolled in the Present Use Value taxation
program, so the conservation easement would not lessen the amount of property taxes paid to
the County. There would be no decrease in the property's market value caused by the
conservation easement (and extinguishing of portion of its development rights) since it would not
lower the property value to a level that is less than the current present use value.
With this allocation, approximately $2.3 million remains available in the Lands Legacy Capital
Project. Budget Amendment#7-A provides for the use of the above mentioned funds, and amends
the following Capital Project Ordinances:
Lands Legacy Capital Project (-$261,458) - Project#20011
Revenues for this project:
Current FY 2021-22 FY 2021-22
FY 2021-22 Amendment Revised
Alternative Financing $2,466,157 $261,458 $2,727,615
From General Fund $42,697 $0 $42,697
Donations $2,000 $0 $2,000
Grant Revenue $250,000 1 $0 $250,000
Appropriated Fund Balance $9,337 1 $0 $9,337
Total Project Funding $2,770,191 ($261,458) $3,031,649
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2021-22 FY 2021-22
2021-22 Amendment Revised
Lands Legacy Program $2,770,191 ($261,458) $2,511,833
Total Costs $2,770,191 ($261,458) $2,511,833
Conservation Easements Capital Project ($261,458) - Project# 20006
Revenues for this project:
Current FY 2021-22 FY 2021-22
FY 2021-22 Amendment Revised
Alternative Financing $2,733,947 $261,458 $2,995,405
From General Fund $696,521 $0 $696,521
Donations $1,020 $0 $1,020
NC Agriculture Development
$135,480 $0 $135,480
Grant
Eno River Association $252,843 $13,000 $265,843
Upper Neuse Clean Water
Initiative $54,000 $0 $54,000
NC Conservation Reserve $18,800 $0 $18,800
Program
Contribution from Hillsborough $6,157 $0 $6,157
NC Land and Water Fund $0 $111,042 $111,042
Anticipated Grant Revenue $2,436,000 $124,042 $2,311,958
Total Project Funding $6,334,768 $261,458 $6,596,226
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2021-22 FY 2021-22
2021-22 Amendment Revised
Conservation Easements $6,334,768 $261,458 $6,596,226
Total Costs $6,334,768 $261,458 $6,596,226
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impacts are applicable to this item:
• RESULTANT IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND AIR QUALITY (Assess and
where possible mitigate adverse impacts created to the natural resources of the site and
adjoining area. Minimize production of greenhouse gases.)
The easement will provide a permanent protected natural and agricultural buffer along a busy
highway and developed land to the south. The easement will also protect a vital watershed which
leads to a primary drinking water source for the Town of Hillsborough and City of Raleigh.
• CLEAN OR AVOIDED TRANSPORTATION
Implement programs that monitor and improve local and regional air quality by: 1)
promoting public transportation options; 2) decreasing dependence on single-occupancy
vehicles, and 3) otherwise minimizing the need for travel.
The acquisition of this and subsequent trail easements will move forward the continued effort of
a Statewide trail system, allowing for local and statewide "thru hiking"/foot travel opportunities and
promoting heathy recreation for locals and visiting individuals between several municipalities and
areas of natural and cultural interests.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt and authorize the
Chair to sign the resolution approving the acceptance by Orange County of the conservation
easements, and approve and authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the conservation easement
agreements and trail easement documents, subject to final review by staff and County Attorney,
with a closing and recordation of the document expected to occur on or about March 30, 2022,
and approve Budget Amendment #7-A.