HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-04-2003-8fORANGE 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: (Y/N) No
Conservation
ATTACHMENT(S):
Revised Draft Annual Action Plan/Map
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Stancil, 245-2598
Rich Shaw, 245-2591
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
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 27th, 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 27th 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.
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.
s
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 FY 2002-03, the Annual Action Plan was withheld until decisions about the CIP
and bond sales were made, since these directly impact the Action Plan. The result is a two-
year plan, combining proposed actions for both FY 2002-03 and FY 2003-04
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).
(Note: Plans to continue to pursue grant funding for County projects 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
For the periodJu/y 1, 2002 -lure 30, 2004
Lands LegacyAnnua/Action Plan 2002-03 Draft 1128103
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 1988 Inventory ofNatuia/Areas and Wildlife Habitatand 1999
Landscape with Wi/d/ife 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. Mary's 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.
A. Commission for the Environment (CfE)
Continue efforts to protect Seven Mile Creek (Natural Areas N02/N03),
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
Lands LegacyAnnua/Action Plan 2002-03 Draft 1128103 [>
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.
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 Wi/d/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)
6. 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
6G;
Lands LegacyAnnua/Action Plan 2002-03 Draft 1128103
• 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-assessparkneeds for this site,
previously titled "Cedar Grove-Little River Park j
• 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
7
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Lands LagacyAnnua/Action Plan 2002-04
In addition to specific acquisition
objectives, other actions may be
needed to facilitate long-term land
conservation. For the coming year,
strategies include the following:
1. Work with the Commission for
the Environment to complete the
Natural Areas Element to the
Orange County Comprehensive
Plan, incorporating the results of
the forthcoming update to the
Inventory of Natural Areas and
Wildlife Habitat.
2. Continue meeting with members
of the Orange County Land
Conservation Alliance twice a
year to discuss potential
opportunities for collaboration on
conservation projects.
Oratt -1128103
The following actions were
accomplished from the previous
Annual Action Plan (2001-2002).
• Purchased the historic Blackwood
Farm (152 acres) for a future park
located near New Hope Elementary
and Stanback Middle School.
• Received a conservation easement
donation on 45 acres owned by Carl
and Eve Shy (Bingham Township).
The easement will help protect
natural area/wildlife habitat and
prime farmland within the Cane
Creek watershed critical area.
•
Collaborated with the Triangle Land
Conservancy on purchase of 35-acre
tract from Stanley and Carolyn
Peelle (bargain sale) to protect
portion of identified Natural Area site
as an addition to TLC's Steep Bottom
Branch Nature Preserve.
3. Work with Duke University
and the University of North
Carolina on formalizing the
protection of natural areas
located on university property.
4. Conduct outreach with civic
organizations, neighborhood
groups, and others to discuss
Lands Legacy program and
conservation options.
5. Compile land acquisition inquiries
and opportunities from
landowners and other potential
partners, and present to the
Board's for direction on whether
to pursue acquisition.
Helped establish the Morgan Creek
Valley Alliance, a new partnership
in land conservation among entities
interested in protecting natural and
cultural heritage in the Morgan
Creek watershed.
Applied for $1 million from the NC
Clean Water Management Trust
Fund for acquisition of riparian
buffers in the Upper Eno Watershed.
• Applied for $788,900 from USDA
Farmland Protection Program
to purchase conservation
easements on three active farms.
7
Lands LegacyAnnua/Action Plan 2002-04
The following priority projects were
identified in the first ("interim'
Action Plan adopted for the Lands
Legacy program covering the period
from May 3, 2000 - June 30, 2001.
Purchase land (100-200 acres) for
establishing a district/regional park
between Chapel Hill/Carrboro and
Hillsborough.
Result - Purchased 193 acres owned by
the Hunter (44 acres) and Cate families
(149 acres with historic farmstead) for
the proposed Chapel Hill Township
District Park and Educational
Campus (May/June 2001).
2. Purchase additional 25-60 acres at
Northern Human Services Center to
help convert from community park
to Cedar Grove District Park.
Result - Developed pre-concept plans
for future Cedar Grove Park. Unable
to negotiate purchase of adjacent lands
in 2000-01, but negotiations continuing
on other adjacent lands
3. Purchase or protect lands in the
Seven Mile Creek area, especially
portions of identified natural areas.
Result - Acquired 134 acres from
Mayes' Hill, Ltd., including portion of
Natural Area site E02, for the Seven
Mile Creek Preserve (June 2001).
4. Map and acquire lands in pilot
project trail linking Town parks,
Duke Forest, future County park and
Eno River State Park.
Draft -1128103 1.10
Result - Mapped potential alignment of
rustic woodland trail in consultation with
Duke Forest Manager. Identified
"missing link" properties, but took no
action on acquisition/easements,
pending further consultation with BOCC.
5. Secure or acquire 25-74 acres in
Bingham Township for community
park, working to locate park on
OWASA-owned lands if possible.
Result - Worked with OWASA staff on
identifying three potential park sites.
Report developed on "Mitigation Lands
Tract." Consider additional
OWASA/County parkland opportunities.
6. Acquire land in Eno Township or
Schley area for community park if no
other parks are otherwise identified
by December 2000.
Result - Evaluated potential 200-acre
park site donation for the proposed
"Preserve" subdivision (February 2001).
Subdivision proposal was withdrawn.
Began negotiations for the potential
acquisition of Blackwood Farm.
7. Work with willing seller and OWASA
or Soil & Water District to acquire a
pilot project farmland conservation
easement, targeting the Cane Creek
watershed.
Result - Prepared conservation
easement to protect farmland owned by
Victor and Lucille Walters (Cedar
Grove Township) using $107,000 grant
(50% of cost) from NC Farmland
Preservation Trust Fund. (Closed in July
2001.)
8. Consider other objectives as
opportunities arise.
8
Lands LegacyAnnua/Action Plan 2002-04
Results:
Purchased the Orange County
portion (136 acres) of the proposed
391-acre Little River Regional
Park and Natural Area (November
7, 2000) to be owned and managed
jointly with Durham County
[Durham completed the purchase of
its 255-acre portion in July 2001]
Received a grant of $262,000 from
the federal Land and Water
Conservation Fund for development
of the Little River Regional Park
and Natural Area (October 2000)
Began work on proposed
conservation easement donation by
Carl and Eve Shy (45 acres in
Bingham Township). Closed in
October 2002.
Commenced an update of Orange
County's Inventory of Natural
Areas and Wildlife Habitat using
$5,000 grant from the NC Natural
Heritage Program (to be completed
in 2003)
Held initial meetings of the Orange
County Land Conservation
Alliance (October 2000 and April
2001), bringing together staff from
partner entities in land conservation
to share information for potential
collaboration on resource protection
projects
Draft -1128103
The FY 2002-04 Annual Action Plan
will continue to build on the
acquisition projects of previous
years, with potential projects in each
of the Lands Legacy priority areas
(natural areas, parkland, cultural
resources, farmland easements and
watershed buffers.
These efforts have placed the
County in position to open new
publicly-accessible lands such as
McGowan Creek Preserve and Little
River Park in the coming year.
At the same time, a renewed
emphasis is proposed on public
outreach about the program, and
stewardship plans for lands in the
program.
The first two years of the program
saw tremendous strides in
acquisitions of priority resource
lands, with 794 acres currently
acquired and several more projects
in the works. This has in large part
enabled the County to essentially
preserve one acre for every acre of
land that has been developed.
This Action Plan - begins to propose
acquisition targets and resource
protection opportunities for the new
bond funds approved by voters in
November 2001.
Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan (Draft)
Priority Areas 2002 - 2004
Walters
Farm $
Ward
Farm
Seven Mile IL
r?
North - Central Orange
Community Park
0\\? Creek Preserve
Faucette Mill
Historic Area
Northern Chapel Hill
Township Rustic Trails
oafa %
White Cross
Community Park
Orange County
Environment & Resource
Conservation Department
1/28/03
B. Young
Mt Sinai Rd
New Hope Rustic
Woodland Trail
(Segment)
Cheek Farm
Legend
Southern Shagbark = Riparian Buffers
Hickory Forest = Historic/Cultural
Parkland
Natural Areas
N
40 ?'+? " Farmland
4000 0 4000 0000 Feet