Alamance County approves grants to buy Austin tract for parkland and riparian buffer

Alamance County commissioners on April 7, 2025, approved Budget Amendment 10 to accept grant funding and place the funds in a multiyear capital fund to complete the planned purchase of the Austin (Austin Quarter) tract for parkland and environmental buffer purposes.

Rebecca, a parks department staff member who presented the request, said the parks department submitted three separate grant awards to support the land acquisition. The county will use the funds in conjunction with landfill staff to add a riparian buffer for surface waters and additional buffer around the landfill. "This is all going towards the land acquisition purchase of the Austin or Austin quarter tract," Rebecca said at the meeting.

Rebecca and Jamie told commissioners the funding is non–general-fund money and that placing the grants into a multiyear county capital or renovations-and-repair fund gives the county time to plan future development; future development or site work would likely depend on additional grants, Rebecca said. "This would not have a future general fund impact most likely but all of that is to come and by putting it in that multi year fund we have plenty of time to work with it," Rebecca said.

Commissioner Thompson asked for clarification because earlier in the meeting a large transfer of approximately $4,000,000 had been moved off the consent agenda for discussion; staff confirmed the parks grant-funded acquisition is separate and is being placed into the multiyear fund. After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the budget amendment; the board voted by voice and the clerk recorded the action as unanimous.

Ending: County staff will complete the acquisition process and return to the board with development or management proposals as future funding and plans permit.