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2 <br />of eight (8) out often (10) years; <br />OR be one on which at least two-thirds of the land has been actively used in <br />agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations as defined in the N.C. General <br />Statutes, Section 105-277.2 (1,2, and 3), during each of the five (5) previous years, <br />measured from the date on which the determination must be made as to whether <br />the land in question qualifies. <br />Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the <br />Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion-control practices as <br />specified in the 1985 Food Security Act. <br />The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Office and the Tax Supervisor have <br />provided memoranda which indicate that the Tate property complies with the above <br />requirements (see Attachments #3 and #4). In addition, the property specified in the <br />Tate application is comprised of one tract totaling 81.4 acres. Thus, the acreage <br />requirement of Section V.B.l.a. is satisfied, since the tract consists of at least 80 <br />contiguous acres. <br />To be designated as a Voluntary Agricultural District, the property owner must sign a <br />conservation agreement, as provided in Article 4 of Chapter 121 of the N.C. General <br />Statutes, between Orange County and the owner that prohibits non-farm use or <br />development of such land for a period of at least ten (10) years, except for the <br />creation of not more than three (3) lots that meet applicable Orange County zoning <br />and subdivision regulations (see Attachment #5). <br />At its June 16, 1999 meeting, the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board voted <br />unanimously to approve the certification of the Hurley T. Tate property as qualifying <br />farmland and recommend its designation as a voluntary agricultural district (see <br />Attachment #6). <br />Addition of the Tate property would bring the total acreage in the Voluntary <br />Agricultural District program to 1,336 acres. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. <br />RECOMMENDATON(S): Administration Recommendation. <br />The Administration recommends that the property of Hurley T. Tate be certified <br />as qualifying farmland and designated as a voluntary agricultural district. <br />