HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2022-006-Orange County Board of Commissioners Resolution approval of conversation Easements between Orange County and the Eno Rver association and Draper-Savage Memorial Foundation RES- 2022 -006 Attachment 1
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION
Approval of Conservation Easements
between
Orange County and the Eno River Association
and
Draper-Savage Memorial Foundation
WHEREAS , Orange County has adopted goals that promote the preservation of natural areas ,
wildlife habitat , prime farmland , and open space in the county ; and
WHEREAS , Orange County established the Lands Legacy Program for the purpose of
protecting the most significant natural and cultural resources through partnerships with
landowners and other conservation entities ; and
WHEREAS , one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation
easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds ; and
WHEREAS , the Draper- Savage Memorial Foundation property includes approximately 72
acres in the Upper Eno Critical watershed , consisting of a majority of prime agricultural soils ,
and includes 1 , 900 linear feet of tributaries that drain to the Eno River—a drinking water supply
reservoir for the Town of Hillsborough and City of Raleigh ; and
WHEREAS , Moorefields Foundation , the caretakers of the Draper- Savage Memorial
Foundation property , wish to grant permanent conservation easements to Orange County and
the Eno River Association , which will protect the prime open space and riparian corridors that
exist on the property ; and
WHEREAS , conservation easements on this approximately 72 acres would ensure the
preservation of this open space and stream buffers for future generations and help compensate
the owner for this long -term commitment ;
NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
does hereby 1 ) accept on behalf of Orange County the conservation easements for land owned
by Draper- Savage Memorial Foundation ; 2 ) approve the execution of this conservation
easement agreements with Draper- Savage Memorial Foundation , in accordance with the terms
of the proposed easement agreements , subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney ,
3 ) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the easement agreements on behalf of the Board ,
with a closing to occur on or about March 30 , 2022 ; and 4 ) authorize County staff to sign any
and all closing documents upon consultation with the County Attorney .
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Draper- Savage Memorial Foundation for
their civic- minded granting of these conservation easements through the Lands Legac
Program . Q fort,
This the 1st day of February , 2022 .
Renee Price , Chair Lz 52
Orange County Board of Commissi ne s
Laura Jens , Clerk to the Board