ORD-2000-030 Revisions to the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program (VFPP) Ordinance

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Ok?,O � 2aoo - a3o t ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 17, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Revisions to the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program (VFPP) Ordinance DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Revised VFPP Ordinance (4/3/00) Dave Stancil, 245-2590 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider revisions to the County's Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance to address a name change and expansion of the Board's makeup and scope. BACKGROUND: On June 1, 1999, the Board first considered revisions to this ordinance submitted by the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board (ADAB). The proposed revisions centered around changing the name of the ADAB to the Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) to reflect a broader mission and charge to the group consistent with the BOCC goal and the Ag Board's relationship with the County ERCD and the Federal Natural Resource Conservation Service. At that time, the Board of Commissioners suggested additional changes be addressed to broaden the makeup of the Board to include members in non-traditional farming and a representative of farmer's markets. On February 1, 2000, the Board suggested additional changes regarding appointments that have been incorporated into the new draft. In reviewing these changes, additional issues arose related to the definition of Voluntary Agricultural Districts and membership requirements in the state statutes. The April 3 draft would expand the membership of the APB from the current seven members to seven at-large members appointed by the BOCC plus a seat for a representative of each Voluntary Agricultural District (as required by state statute). There are currently five Voluntary Agricultural Districts, and three of those are represented on the existing Board. The specific interest group seats in previous drafts have been deleted in favor of an at-large approach. Finally, language on the method of recommending appointments has been clarified. The intent of the increase in Board membership is to allow new appointments from non- traditional farming activities such as organic farming and other farm-related activities. This will assist the Board in pursuing the "A New Consensus for Farmland" goal. The name changes and other non-substantive revisions are consistent with the previous version.