Item:
Title
Approve Acceptance of Impervious Surface Conservation Easement (approximately 26.1 acres, a portion of REID 187897, 187946, and 187948) at 604 Orange Factory Road and 6904 & 6902 Innesbrook Way for Permanent Open Space
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: November 9, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve the County’s acceptance of a conservation easement to permanently protect approximately 26.1 acres of REID 187897, 187946, and 187948 at 604 Orange Factory Road, and 6904 & 6902 Innesbrook Way to offset anticipated excess impervious area associated with future planned infrastructure expansion at Saint Matthew Catholic Parish of Durham at 1001 Mason Road (REID 188439).
As permitted by Durham County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Section 8.7.2, impervious surface limitations may be exceeded through an impervious surface credit transfer. In this case, the permanent conservation easement will prohibit any impervious area on the 26.1-acre donor area, transferring approximately 68,215 square feet of impervious surface credit to 1001 Mason Road. The easement will require that the area remain vegetated, natural, or managed as forestland.
Durham County’s Open Space Program staff evaluated the proposed easement area and determined that it meets the criteria for acceptance (Attachment 2). The easement area is entirely wooded and includes 20-year-old planted loblolly pine; it is adjacent to the State-designated Snow Hill Forest natural area, contiguous with Triangle Land Conservancy’s Snow Hill Preserve, and located approximately 475 feet from the County’s Orange Factory Road site.
Following a preliminary review, Durham Planning & Development has confirmed that this impervious surface credit transfer meets UDO requirements, contingent upon approval of survey and plat documentation for impervious areas. With the exception of title insurance for the conservation easement, the applicant, Saint Matthew Catholic Parish, will incur all costs and fees associated with conveying the easement to Durham County.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The permanent protection of land through conservation easements aligns with Strategic Plan Community Indicator Goal 4 (Environment) by protecting natural resources and promoting community and economic vitality for all Durham County residents, specifically through the Natural Resource and Stewardship Protection Objective.
Resource Persons: Celeste Burns, Open Space & Real Estate Manager; Father John Curran, Saint Matthew Catholic Parish of Durham; Peri Manns, Deputy Director of Engineering and Environmental Services; Jay Gibson, Director of Engineering and Environmental Services.
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve the County’s acceptance of a conservation easement to permanently protect approximately 26.1 acres of REID 187897, 187946, and 187948 at 604 Orange Factory Road, and 6904 & 6902 Innesbrook Way to offset anticipated excess impervious area associated with future planned infrastructure expansion at Saint Matthew Catholic Parish of Durham at 1001 Mason Road (REID 188439).
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________