Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> A. PURPOSE <br /> The purpose of this section is to help prevent potential conflicts from occurring between qualifying farms and non- <br /> farm landowners regarding acceptable and responsible farming operations and practices,and to minimize the <br /> incidence of nuisance suits against owners of qualifying farmland. <br /> B. PROCEDURE <br /> Upon certification of qualifying farmland and designation of real property as a voluntary agricultural district,the <br /> Orange County Land Records System shall be changed to include a notice reasonably calculated to alert a person <br /> researching the title of a particular tract that such tract is located within one-half mile of a voluntary agricultural <br /> district. <br /> C. In no event shall the County or any of its officers,employees,or agents be held liable in damages for any <br /> misfeasance,malfeasance,or nonfeasance occurring in good faith in connection with,the duties or obligations <br /> imposed by any ordinance adopted under subsection B above. <br /> D. In no event shall any cause of action arise out of the failure of a person researching the title of a particular tract to <br /> report to any person the proximity of the tract to a qualifying farm or voluntary agricultural district as defined in this <br /> ordinance. <br /> Section IX-WAIVER OF WATER AND SEWER ASSESSMENTS <br /> A. Landowner(s)belonging to voluntary agricultural districts shall not be assessed for or required to connect to Orange <br /> County water and/or sewer systems. <br /> B. Water and sewer assessments will be held in abeyance,without interest,for farms,whether inside or outside of a <br /> voluntary agricultural district,until improvements on such property are connected to the water or sewer system for <br /> which the assessment was made. <br /> C. When the period of abeyance ends,the assessment is payable in accordance with the terms set out in the assessment <br /> resolution. <br /> D. Statutes of limitations are suspended during the time that any assessment is held in abeyance without interest. <br /> E. Assessment procedures followed under Article 9 of Chapter 153A of the N.C.General Statutes shall conform to the <br /> terms of this ordinance with respect to qualifying farms that entered into conservation agreements while such <br /> ordinance was in effect. <br /> F. Nothing in this section is intended to diminish the authority of the County to hold assessments in abeyance under N.C. <br /> General Statutes,Section 153A-201. <br /> Section X-LAND-USE INCENTIVES TO <br /> VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT FORMATION <br /> A. PURPOSE <br /> The purpose of this section is to help meet the needs of agriculture as an industry in Orange County and prevent <br /> conflicts between voluntary agricultural district participants and non-farm landowners in proximity to districts. <br /> B. PROCEDURE <br /> Land-use planning decisions and ordinances affecting parcels of land adjacent to any district shall take into account <br /> the existence of such district and the purpose of this ordinance. <br /> Section XI-NORTH CAROLINA AGENCY NOTIFICATION <br /> A. The Board may consult with the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture,the North Carolina Division of Soil <br /> and Water,and any other entity the Boards deems necessary to the proper conduct of its business. <br />