Orange County NC Website
working on a brochure about what they do, coordination, advocacy and a <br />clearing house for youth. <br />AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS ADVISORY BOARD <br />Dolly Hunter, Chair of the Agricultural Districts Advisory <br />Board, reported that their Board has been involved with a number of <br />educational and promotional activities this past year. They would like <br />for the County to add one more tool to the opportunities for farm owners - <br />- a voluntary system of transfer of development rights. She explained <br />what this would involve noting that a lot would depend on the real estate <br />market. Also, there is no benefit in a farmer being able to sell his <br />development rights unless someone else is willing to buy them. The <br />Agricultural Board would like to know if the County is willing to <br />establish appropriate receiving areas where such development rights can be <br />put because they do not want to spend a lot of time developing a system if <br />there is no place to put development rights. <br />Commissioner Willhoit said that, based on past experiences, he <br />feels this would be a difficult system to promote under any circumstances. <br />The problem is that he is not aware of any significant areas the County <br />has that can be the receiving zone. In order to have higher densities, <br />there must be municipal services. It would be complex to work out a <br />system with a municipality. <br />Pearson Stewart, member of the Agricultural Board, said that the <br />opportunities for the farmer are worth the problem of working it out. <br />The County Commissioners indicated they would like to have a <br />report from Ted Abernathy, Economic Development Director, about the <br />commercial aspect of TDR. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that there is a big need to <br />extend the sewer lines in Efland because there may be some possibilities <br />for development in that area. <br />Geof Gledhill said that zoning districts would need to be <br />created where density and use can only be changed by TDR. <br />Dolly Hunter continued listing their goals and objectives for <br />1996-97. These include a request for the Board of County Commissioners to <br />reduce property taxes for farmers through state or local legislation, <br />pursue enabling legislation for use-value taxation penalty payments to be <br />placed in a TDR fund and conduct a statistical survey that demonstrates <br />"Preservation of Farmland Pays." <br />Commissioner Willhoit asked for a report on how much the County <br />receives from the use-value taxation penalty payments -- the three year <br />payback when the property is no longer in farm use. <br />EMS ADVISORY COUNCIL - RESOURCE COMMITTEE <br />Commissioner Crowther made reference to a pilot program <br />involving the use of Quick Response Vehicles and said that after three <br />months in operation, a decision was made to expand and extend the pilot <br />program through January, 1996. Indications suggest that the staffing <br />pattern is working well, patient satisfaction is high and overall patient <br />