Wake County leasing land for cycling trails from RDU airport authority

This is an area bikers, walkers and runners used the land every day. RDU has "no trespassing" signs.

With the deal, Wake County pays the airport authority more than $5 million over the next 10 years.

Additionally, Wake County has to foot a bill valued at more than $3 million for infrastructure. That entails creating the trails, parking lot and other developments.

Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson said she loves the concept of the project and likes what it could mean for recreation for cyclists.

What she doesn't like is the fact it's leased land. She said there's a clause in the lease where the airport could cancel the agreement with enough notice.

So, Wake County could spend the money and be left with nothing. Adamson also thinks the airport authority's $18 million dollar appraisal of the land is too high.

"The way the lease is structured now, we could, over the next 40 years, we could pay multiple times even the $18 million and in the end, we own nothing," Adamson said.

Adamson said the airport authority has been clear in that they don't want to sell the land.

Wake County Commissioner Matt Calabria, who was in favor of this agreement said "This is an important enhancement to our parks and greenway amenities. As we continue to grow, preserving green spaces is critical to maintaining and improving our quality of life."

There are also options in this lease for renewal. That could mean a total of 40 years of this agreement.