HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 12-01-2025; 8-g - Resolution of Approval – Alamance County Ownership of Donated Land Within Orange County 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 1, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-g
SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval — Alamance County Ownership of Donated Land Within
Orange County
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
PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution approving Alamance County taking ownership of a parcel of
land in Orange County for inclusion in a future Alamance regional park.
BACKGROUND: In early October 2025, staff from Alamance County contacted DEAPR staff to
inquire about Orange County's interest in assisting to acquire an 18-acre parcel of land in Orange
County (referenced further as Orange County PIN #9728085728), located on the Orange
County/Alamance County border. The 18-acre parcel would be incorporated into a larger 750-
acre regional park in Alamance County. The parcel is attached to a large property almost entirely
within Alamance County and part of a long-planned park project known as "Alston Quarter" near
Saxapahaw. Recently, the new landowner offered to complete the project through donation of the
land to Alamance County.
The 18-acre parcel within Orange County (see attached map) is part of a much larger 1,132-acre
parcel in Alamance County near the southwestern corner of Orange County. It is the last parcel
on the County line that lies between Cane Creek as it enters Alamance and the county line. As
such the parcel is "water-locked" by Cane Creek and is only accessible through Alamance County
from the west. Alamance County Parks staff have been working for the last year to finalize the
documents and financial means to acquire 750 acres of the larger property for a future regional
park along the Haw River. Notably for Orange County purposes, the park will include a key
connection to the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) and provides the direct MST connection from
Alamance into Orange County via Morrow Mill Road.
North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 153A-15 requires the consent of the Board of
Commissioners before land may be acquired in Orange County by a unit of local government
outside the county.
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FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION
OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds.
OBJECTIVE 7. Conserve and protect high priority open space, including Natural Heritage
sites, nature preserves, watershed riparian buffers, and prime/threatened farmland.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the resolution allowing Alamance County to own the property in Orange County as
shown on the attached map and referenced as Orange County PIN #9728085728. Alamance
County will then accept the land donation in fee simple within Orange County for the inclusion into
the future park.
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RES-2025-064 Attachment 1
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION
Approval of Alamance County Ownership of Land in Fee Simple within Orange County
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 future parklands
and nature preserves; and
WHEREAS, the Bruce B Cameron Trustee property includes approximately 18 acres in the
Haw River watershed that includes over 2,000 linear feet of Cane Creek, a direct tributary to
the Haw River and Jordan Lake, a drinking water supply for the cities of Durham and Raleigh;
and
WHEREAS, the owners of the property in Orange County (PIN #9728085728) wish to donate
the land to Alamance County, which will protect the forested riparian corridors on the property;
and
WHEREAS, a section of the Mountains to Sea Trail would transect the property to eventually
enter Orange County via Morrow Mill Road to the north; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 153A-15 requires consent of the Board
of Commissioners before land may be acquired in Orange County by a unit of local government
outside the county;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
does hereby approve Alamance County acquiring the 18-acre property within Orange County;
This the 1St day of December, 2025.
Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board
Alston Quarter Natural Area / Alamance Parks Phased Layout
10-3-2025
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2025 NCLWF Application (390 acres) o Future Mountains-to-Sea Trail w, , E
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County Line Parcels
Alston Quarter Natural Area / Alamance Parks Orange County
10-3-2025
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PLC Monitored Conservation Easement (360 acres) Streams N
2025 NCLWF Application (390 acres) o Future Mountains-to-Sea Trail w E
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Orange County Parcel (18.33 acres)
PIN.9728085728
0 0.05 0.1 0.2 Miles
County Line