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�y. <br />1 ORANGE COUNTY <br />2 VOLUNTARY FARMLAND PROTECTION ORDINANCE <br />3 <br />4 ARTICLE 1 <br />5 TITLE <br />6 <br />7 An ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH <br />8 CAROLINA, entitled, "VOLUNTARY FARNII.AND PROTECTION ORDINANCE." <br />9 <br />10 ARTICLE H <br />11 AUTHORITY <br />12 <br />13 The articles and sections of this ordinance are adopted pursuant to authority conferred by the <br />14 N.C.G.S. Sections 106 -735 through 106 -744 and Chapter 153A. <br />15 <br />16 ARTICLE III <br />17 PURPOSE <br />18 <br />19 Through its plans, ordinances and other programs, it is the expressed policy of Orange <br />20 County to conserve, protect and encourage the preservation and improvement of agricultural <br />21 land within the County boundaries as a critical component of the County's cultural and rural <br />22 character and its economy by virtue of the production of food, fiber and other products. The <br />23 purpose of this ordinance is to reduce the loss of productive and existing farmland by <br />24 promoting agricultural values and the general welfare of the County, recognize the existence <br />25 of important farmlands by seeking to minimize risks of nuisance suits that arise from the <br />26 onset of other land uses, encourage participation in voluntary programs to preserve and <br />27 protect farmland from non -farm development and increase identity and awareness of the <br />28 agricultural community, and its role in the economic and cultural quality of life for all <br />29 County residents. <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 ARTICLE IV <br />33 DEFINITIONS <br />34 <br />35 The following are defined for purposes of this ordinance: <br />36 <br />37 Board: Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board. <br />38 <br />39 Chair: Chairperson of the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board. <br />40 <br />41 District: Voluntary Agricultural District as established by this ordinance. <br />42 <br />43 Board of Commissioners: Orange County Board of Commissioners. <br />44 <br />45 Qualifying Farm_ A farm that has met the qualification criteria set out in Article VII of this <br />46 ordinance, is certified for the Voluntary Agricultural District Program. <br />47 <br />