HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-04-2000-9cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 4, 2000
Action Age da
Item No. ~`
SUBJECT: "A Lands Legacy Program for Orange County" _
DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Conservation
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
"Lands Legacy" Report (under separate Dave Stancil, 245-2590
cover, appendices upon request) Rich Shaw, 245-2591
Comments from advisory boards
Resolution adopting Lands Legacy TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Program Hillsborough 732-5181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider adopting, as policy, a program for natural and cultural resource land
acquisitions entitled "A Lands Legacy Program for Orange County."
BACKGROUND: In June 1998, the Board called for the development of a comprehensive land
acquisition program to protect and acquire (whether fee-simple or via easement) prioritized
natural and cultural resources in the County. This concept, along with the creation of a new
Environment and Resource Conservation Department, was presented at public hearing in
November, 1998.
ERCD staff developed a program outline in the spring and summer of 1999, and all relevant
advisory boards developed proposed critieria for evaluation of resource land acquisition in the
fall of 1999. A draft report was presented to the Board at the October 12, 1999 work session.
Comments and direction from the Board were incorporated into a revised version of the
document, which was provided for Board review in February. Advisory boards reviewed the
proposal in March. and any comments received are attached.
The proposed program contains a number of sections that address the rationale for the
program, inventory existing resources, and review GIS data (both current and needed) that is
being used to create a Comprehensive Resource Database. Other similar programs around the
nation and the state are noted, along with the criteria for evaluating land acquisitions suggested
from each advisory board, and ways that the GIS resource database could be used to identify
priority acquisition areas.
Potential tools for land acquisition, ranging from donations to easements to fee-simple, are
explained in the document. Possible funding sources and land management options are also
addressed.
The Implementation Recommendations section of the report uses the direction provided by the
Board to propose a means of formalizing this program. Using four operating principles as a
guide, this section recommends that the Lands Legacy program have the following linchpins:
The Lands Legacy program would be coordinated and administered as a County program,
under the existing statutory authority held by counties in N.C. The Soil and Water District
Board could be invited to participate in the holding of agricultural conservation easements, if
desired. The other land management options that are multi jurisdictional or more-complex
(County local government land trust or Open Space Authority) will continue to be evaluated
over the next few years, and will require lengthy future discussion among multiple parties
along with inter-local agreements and resolution of other complicated issues.
A number of funding options are laid out for the Board's consideration, with the
understanding that aggressive application for outside (grant) funding will be pursued.
Opportunities for joint ventures with other local governments, authorities and land trusts
would also be explored whenever possible.
An Annual Action Plan is proposed as the mechanism for generating annual priorities and
reporting on activities in the previous year. This Action Plan, to be prepared each December
for the Board's retreat, would involve input from the relevant advisory boards into priorities,
which would then be decided by the Board. The role of advisory boards in the Lands Legacy
process is also addressed. An Interim Action Plan to cover the period from the present
through June, 2001 is proposed to be developed.
Policies for land stewardship, use and access and public outreach are also addressed in the
proposal.
Two sections of the document remain incomplete. The exploration of potential resource land
acquisitions through the development process is underway between the ERCD and Planning
Departments, and a report on this method of land acquisitions is anticipated to be completed in
May. A new set of criteria for farmland acquisitions is being developed by staff, using a points
system based on programs in Durham and Forsyth Counties, and is also expected in May.
A resolution that would implement the Lands Legacy program along the lines in the proposed
report is attached. Since the first Annual Action Plan would not be developed until December,
the Board could also direct staff to develop an Interim Action Plan for the period from the
present through June, 2001.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact of engaging in the Lands Legacy land acquisition
program will depend an the degree and speed of implementation. Existing funding sources,
along with potential future sources and bond referenda, are suggested as option for the Board's
consideration.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board address any changes or
additional directions desired for the Lands Legacy program, discuss the potential funding
options, and adopt the attached resolution making this program a part of County policy, and
direct staff to develop an Interim Action Plan for the period from the present through June,
2001. Staff will report back on the two incomplete areas of the document in May, for potential
inclusion into the program at that time.
Comments from Advisory Boards on
"A_Lands Legacy Pro4ram for Orange Coun#v"
•- -~ ..
Recreation and Parks 3/7/00 Expressed support for program,
Advisory Council in particular plans for parks land-
bankin .
Commission for the 3/13/00 Expressed strong support for
Environment program and looks forward to
having a program for resource
land preservation. Suggested
goal of 10% of priority resource
lands in decade (all sources) and
identified natural resource
priorities in State of the
Environment re ort.
Agricultural Districts 3/15/00 F~cpressed support for program,
Advisory Board discussed potential state land
acquisition funding, and point
system criteria as used in
Durham County and Forsyth
County as alternative to LESA
system. Staff to develop
alternative along these lines
consistent with re rt .
Historic Preservation 3/22/00 Supports program. No further
Commission comments.
Water Resources 3/28/00 TBA
Committee
4
A Resolution Establishing a Prioritized Resource Lands Acquisition
Program Entitled "A Lands Legacy Program for Orange County"
WHEREAS, in June of 1998, the Orange County Board of Commissioners did agree to
the intent of creating a "Comprehensive Resource Acquisition Program" to prioritize and
acquire natural and cultural resource lands of strategic significance in Orange County;
and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on a new Environment
and Resource Conservation Department, including this land acquisition program concept,
on November 22, 1998; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has recognized the need for a
prioritized and voluntary program far the County to acquire, by various methods,
important natural and cultural resource lands; and
WHEREAS, the Board is cognizant of the many other similar efforts undertaken in
1998-99 by local governments around the nation, and of proposals by other local
governments within North Carolina and the Research Triangle region to establish open
space preservation programs:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Orange County Board of Commissioners do adopt a land acquisition program
entitled "A Lands Legacy Program for Orange County" (hereinafter the "Lands Legacy
program', as developed by County Environment and Resource Conservation
Department staff and County preservation-related advisory boards in 1999, and refined
by direction of the Board of County Commissioners in October, 1999 and April, 2000.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lands Legacy program will be the County's
mechanism of preserving important natural resource lands, cultural resources, farmland,
parklands and watershed riparian buffers, and is hereby incorporated into Orange
County's policies as the County program for land acquisitions, as designated in the
program presented April 4, 2000, as amended by the Board.
This, the 4~' day of April, 2000
Moses Carey, Jr.
Chair, Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Beverly Blythe
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners