Item:
Title
Approve the acquisition of three lots at 1112, 1114 and 1116 Trails End Road located adjacent to the Little River for open space and water quality protection
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: September 14, 2020
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve the acquisition of three parcels on Trails End Road in Bahama from Jonathon Weiner (parcels #188479, 188480, and 188481) for the protection open space and water quality benefits for $70,000. The Trails End properties are on the south side of the Little River across from other County-owned open space land and less than one mile upstream from the Little River Reservoir, as shown on the attached maps.
In November 2019, the BOCC provided direction on the County’s open space protection priorities that include continuing efforts to protect the riparian properties upstream from the Little River Reservoir, a drinking water supply for most Durham residents. The Trails End properties are located just 1 mile upstream from the Little River Reservoir, and their protection adds to the permanent open space with important water quality values that protect this important community resource. The properties are just upstream from the 27-acre O’Neal conservation easement that was approved by the Board in December 2019 and conveyed in February 2020. They are also across the river from 158 acres purchased in 2008 with significant grant funding from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund to support water quality protection for the Little River Reservoir. The Trails End parcels are included within the Little River Corridor Inventory site due to the high-quality wooded habitat and their importance as part of the overall Little River corridor. Since the Little River Corridor Open Space Plan was adopted, Durham County has protected over 816 acres in the Little River watershed, in a combination of land purchases and conservation easements.
The Trails End parcels have been appraised at $91,000 and have a current tax value at a combined $90,800. The owner, Jonathon Weiner has agreed to sell the properties to Durham for $70,000 representing a $21,000 partial donation. Mr. Weiner has also agreed to a one-year purchase timeframe until September 30, 2021 to provide time for possible grant funding. The City of Raleigh’s watershed protection program (formerly called UNCWI) provides funding for open space protection projects that support water quality protection of Falls Lake. The Trails End parcels score highly on the program’s criteria, and staff will submit a request for $20,000 in acquisition support from the City of Raleigh. The City of Durham also has a similar watershed protection program to support water quality protection in the Lake Michie and Little River watersheds, and $20,000 will be requested from the City of Durham’s program. Both programs have a grant deadline on September 17. If both grants are awarded, Durham County’s cost will be reduced to approximately $35,000 (including transaction costs).
The County’s open space and farmland capital project account has sufficient funds to pay for the county’s portion of this project, so no additional funding is needed for this acquisition. A capital project amendment and final budget for the acquisition will be brought back to the Board prior to closing once any grant funds awarded are factored in.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The acquisition of permanent open space along the Little River directly supports two measures of the Strategic Plan Goal #4 Environmental Stewardship and Community Prosperity - both “Number of total acres of open space and farmland that have been protected/ influenced by Durham County.” as well as “Maintain, protect, and improve water quality”.
Resource Persons: Jane Korest, Open Space and Real Estate Manager; Celeste Burns, Open Space Coordinator, Peri Manns, Deputy Director of Environmental Engineering
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve the acquisition of three lots at 1112, 1114 and 1116 Trails End Road (parcels #188479, 188480, and 188481) from Jonathan Weiner for $70,000, with a closing no later than September 30, 2021, and authorize the Manager to sign the purchase contract according to the terms outlined above.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________