Agenda - 05-19-1998 - 9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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f 11 a MEMORANDUM TO: John Link, County Manager FROM: Don Belk, Preservation Planner SUBJECT: Historical Perspective on the Work of the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board DATE: May 8, 1998 COPIES: Rod Visser, Assistant County Manager Gene Bell, Acting Planning Director 70 As you know, Commissioner Crowther has proposed an allocation of $200,000 in the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for a PACE program. This proposal was based on one of the Farmland Preservation goals presented by the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board (ADAB) on February 10, 1998. Mr. Crowther's proposal is the culmination of the ADAB's efforts during the 1990's to establish a voluntary farmland preservation program for Orange County. Establishing such a program was the original charge given the ADAB by the Board of Commissioners. Following is a historical perspective of the work of the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board. Activities of the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board, 1990 -1993 In August 1990, the Board of Commissioners reconstituted the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board and charged it with developing a purchase of development rights (PDR) program for Orange County. One month later, the Advisory Board initiated its work, and, in June of 1991, presented a status report to the Board of Commissioners on the proposal. The Board of Commissioners asked the Advisory Board to address the following: • Revision of the system of ranking farmland to include visibility from major thoroughfares and proximity to municipalities; • Expansion of the Advisory Board to include municipal representation, including preparation of a Farmland Preservation Ordinance; and • Presentation of the PDR proposal to Township Advisory Councils to develop support for the program proposals. Between June 1991 and February 1993, the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board addressed these concerns identified by the Board of Commissioners. A Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance was adopted, ADAB membership was expanded to include municipal representation, and Rules of Procedure were adopted. In April 1992, 1,300 notices were sent to land owners participating in the Present Use Value Taxation Program, advising them of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program. In June of that year, Orange County's first Voluntary Agricultural District was designated by the Board of Commissioners.