Orange County NC Website
(5) Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of eight (8) <br />out of ten (10) years; <br />OR be one on which at least two- thirds of the land has been actively used in agricultural, <br />horticultural or forestry operations as defined in the N.C. General Statutes, Section 105 -277.2 (1,2, <br />and 3), during each of the five (5) previous years, measured from the date on which the <br />determination must be made as to whether the land in question qualifies. <br />C. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the Sail GenseFyati <br />Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion - control practices as specified in the <br />1985 Food Security Act. <br />d. Be the subject of a conservation agreement, as provided in Article 4 of Chapter 121 of the N.C. <br />General Statutes, between Orange County and the owner of such land that prohibits non -farm use or <br />development of such land for a period of at least ten (10) years, except for the creation of not more <br />than three (3) lots that meet applicable Orange County zoning and subdivision regulations. <br />D. APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES <br />A farmland owner may apply for either certification as qualifying farmland or for qualifying farmland certification <br />and designation as a voluntary agricultural district. For a farmland owner to receive the benefits provided by this <br />ordinance, the farm must be certified as qualifying farmland by the <br />Agricultural Preservation Board and designated as a voluntary agricultural district by the Board of County <br />Commissioners. <br />Applications for qualifying farmland certification and for voluntary agricultural district designation shall be <br />made to the Orange County Planning Environment and Resource Conservation Department on forms <br />provided by that department. <br />2. The PlmwAng Environment and Resource Conservation Department shall review each application for <br />completeness. When complete, the application shall be forwarded to: <br />a. The Orange County Tax Supervisor's Office; and <br />b. The local office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the <br />United States Department of Agriculture. <br />Within 30 days of receiving an application, the above offices shall evaluate the application for compliance <br />with the requirements of Section V.D.2. above and return their findings to the Planning Environment and <br />Resource Conservation Department. The Planning Environment and Resource Conservation <br />Department shall present the application for consideration at the first meeting of the <br />A&iseFy Bee Agricultural Preservation Board, following receipt of the findings of the above <br />offices. <br />3. Within 60 days of receipt of the findings of the Orange County Tax Supervisor and Soil Gefisefva <br />Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, the Board will render a decision regarding the <br />application of qualifying farmland status, and, if applicable, prepare a recommendation to the Board of <br />County Commissioners regarding the establishment of a voluntary agricultural district. The Chair will notify <br />the applicant by mail of the Board's decision as to whether the real property for which certification is sought <br />satisfies the criteria established in Section V and has been certified as qualifying farmland. If application <br />was also sought for designation as a voluntary agricultural district, the Chair will notify the applicant of the <br />Board's recommendation concerning such designation. <br />4. Upon receipt of the recommendation of the Board, the Board of County Commissioners may consider an <br />application for establishment of a voluntary agricultural district. In deciding whether to establish a district, <br />the Board of County Commissioners shall consider the findings of the Orange County Tax Supervisor and <br />Soil GeaseFyatien Natural Resources Conservation Service offices as well as the recommendation of <br />the Board. <br />Upon approval by the Board of County Commissioners, the establishment of a voluntary agricultural district <br />shall become effective upon recordation of a conservation agreement, prepared in accordance with Section <br />