Item:
Title
Approve Two Conservation Easement Projects - Wesley and Cristan Poole for 25 acres at 1800 and 1801 Tilley Farm Road, Rougemont and Billy and Toni Stevens for 40 acres at 3500 Bahama Road, Rougemont, using County Open Space funds for 25% of the total project costs.
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: January 13, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve two options to purchase two conservation easements, one farmland easement with Wesley and Cristan Poole at 1800 and 1801 Tilley Farm Road, and one habitat conservation easement with Billy and Toni Stevens at 3500 Bahama Road, to use existing open space capital project funds to support 25% of the easements' costs, and to authorize the Manager to execute funding agreement documents if funds are awarded.
The Poole conservation easement is an addition to an existing 239-acre County-held conservation easement and supports agriculture and forestry uses. Billy and Toni Stevens want to protect their historic farm to preserve wildlife and natural habitats. The protection of both areas preserves scenic, rural, wildlife, and water quality resources. Durham County has an existing Cooperative Agreement with the Army National Guard (ARNG) to protect land around Camp Butner. Both the Poole and Stevens farms are located within the one-mile buffer area and are eligible for up to 75% funding through the Department of Defense's REPI (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) Program.
To move forward with these land protection projects the County needs a signed commitment (real estate option) securing the County's and owner's intent to proceed as funding is approved. ARNG funds would pay up to 75% of the appraised conservation easement values. The County's estimated total costs for both easements should not exceed $230,000. The County's open space and farmland capital project account has sufficient funds to pay the County's share, so no additional funding is needed for these ...
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