Item:
Title
Approve the purchase of a conservation easement on 7723 Johnson Mill Road from Karen O'Neal to be held jointly with Triangle Land Conservancy. Approve Capital Project Amendment No. 20CPA000014 decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project $78,000 and Budget Amendment No. 20BCC000034 transferring $78,000 to the General Fund to support Durham County's portion of the easement costs.
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: December 9, 2019
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to purchase of a conservation easement on the 27.4-acre Karen O'Neal property at 7723 Johnson Mill Road (Parcel ID 190119), and to approve Capital Project Amendment No. 20CPA000014 decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project $78,000 and Budget Amendment No. 20BCC000034 transferring $78,000 to the General Fund to support the purchase of the easement. The O'Neal property is located on the north side of the Little River, located less than one mile upstream from the Little River Reservoir, as shown on the attached maps. It is also adjacent to the County's 158-acre tract purchased in 2008 with significant grant funding from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund to support water quality for the Little River Reservoir, as well as for its significant natural heritage values. Since the Little River Corridor Open Space Plan was adopted, Durham County has protected 790 acres in the watershed, in a combination of land purchases and conservation easements.
Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) is able to work with landowners in the Little River watershed with funding support from the City of Raleigh's watershed protection program (formerly called UNCWI). TLC has been working with Karen O'Neal who lives on the property at 7723 Johnson Mill Road. The proposed conservation easement on the property will protect the property in its currently wooded condition, with the exception of her one existing homesite. The property scores highly for...
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