Item:
Title
Durham County Farm Campus Feasibility Study Report and Discussion (45min)
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: May 5, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board of County Commissioners is requested to receive a presentation of the completed Farm Campus feasibility study and recommendations from representatives of HR&A Advisors and County staff; to engage in discussion; and to provide feedback.
The feasibility study results are part of a comprehensive process funded through a USDA Urban Agriculture Innovative Production (UAIP) planning grant awarded to Durham County Cooperative Extension in 2022 to explore the feasibility of a Farm Campus. The Board previously received a report regarding the community engagement phase of the feasibility study conducted by CoSpero Consulting in October 2024, which informed the final feasibility study, and is included in the attachments.
A Durham County Farm Campus aims to support a more resilient food system that systemically addresses the root causes of food insecurity and supports entrepreneurship and workforce development for prospective users of the campus. The feasibility study examined partnerships, priorities, and phasing of a Durham County Farm Campus, as well as an in-depth study of how the Farm Campus can best meet community needs and goals. Conducted by HR&A Advisors beginning in 2023, the study evaluates the concept through three workstreams-Land Feasibility Analysis, Design & Development, and Implementation. While the concept of a Durham County Farm Campus has been under discussion for several years, this study enabled Durham County to thoroughly examine the feasibility of the idea and consider possible plans for implementation.
The included land analysis was used to inform Durham County's 2024 land purchase of 129 acres on Orange Factory Road for the Farm Campus along with other community, open space, and recreational uses. This and other data from the feasibility study will inform next ste...
Click here for full text