Wake County, RDU forward with lease of 286 properties | Tech Guess

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority has agreed to lease 151 acres of land to Wake County to make use of as a public recreation space for mountain bikers.

The location, often called “Property 286”, is situated north of Interstate 40 between William B. Umstead State Park and Lake Crabtree County Park. The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted to conclude a 10-year lease on November 21, and the airport board accepted it at its assembly as we speak.

“As we proceed to develop, defending inexperienced areas is essential to sustaining – and enhancing – our high quality of life,” stated Wake County Commissioner Matt Calabria. “As we speak’s deal is not going to solely shield our pure assets, it’ll additionally develop common leisure alternatives for all our residents.”

Wake County can pay the airport a complete of $5,260,611 for the lease of the land over the subsequent 10 years. This quantity might be offset by Cary and Morrisville’s annual contributions to the county. The lease settlement additionally supplies for 3 lease extension choices for a complete potential lease time period of 40 years.

Cyclists have constructed and used routes on property for years with out permission from the airport. As we speak’s resolution means Wake County will function 286 as an extension of Lake Crabtree County Park, which can embody sanctioned use of mountain biking trails.

When the lease begins on January 1, Wake County will instantly start improvement of the land improvement plan. Workers will take away unauthorized footbridges and different constructions, and guests might be prohibited from leaving the perimeter of the leased property that borders the creek as soon as it opens.

Future improvement of the property might embody spending between $3 and $3.3 million to rebuild 7 miles of trails; making a upkeep path for vehicular entry; and the addition of a car parking zone, a composting rest room, a small picnic shelter, and an occasion space. The county estimates that everlasting employment and upkeep of the park will price one other $3.3 million over these 10 years.