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

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4/3/00 6 (5) Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of eight(8) out of ten(10)years; OR be one on which at least two-thirds of the land has been actively used in agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations as defined in the N.C.General Statutes,Section 105-277.2(1,2, and 3),during each of the five(5)previous years,measured from the date on which the determination must be made as to whether the land in question qualifies. C. Be managed,if highly erodible land exists on the farm,in accordance with the Seeil Gemmsamqmat4en Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion-control practices as specified in the 1985 Food Security Act. d. Be the subject of a conservation agreement,as provided in Article 4 of Chapter 121 of the N.C. General Statutes,between Orange County and the owner of such land that prohibits non-farm use or development of such land for a period of at least ten(10)years,except for the creation of not more than three(3)lots that meet applicable Orange County zoning and subdivision regulations. D. APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES A farmland owner may apply for either certification as qualifying farmland or for qualifying farmland certification and designation as a voluntary agricultural district. For a farmland owner to receive the benefits provided by this ordinance,the farm must be certified as qualifying farmland by the Aoealttwal Pist&ts Advisei3,B oaf Agricultural Preservation Board and designated as a voluntary agricultural district by the Board of County Commissioners. 1. Applications for qualifying farmland certification and for voluntary agricultural district designation shall be made to the Orange County Rlamiiag Environment and Resource Conservation Department on forms provided by that department. 2. The Rhvmiag Environment and Resource Conservation Department shall review each application for completeness. When complete,the application shall be forwarded to: a. The Orange County Tax Supervisor's Office;and b. The local office of the 894 GenseFvatien Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Within 30 days of receiving an application,the above offices shall evaluate the application for compliance with the requirements of Section V.D.2.above and return their findings to the Phamriag Environment and Resource Conservation Department. The Planning Environment and Resource Conservation Department shall present the application for consideration at the first meeting of the Agr-ieultffal P-strints AdviseFy Beard Agricultural Preservation Board, following receipt of the findings of the above offices. 3. Within 60 days of receipt of the findings of the Orange County Tax Supervisor and Rail Geawstsiti Natural Resources Conservation Service offices,the Board will render a decision regarding the application of qualifying farmland status,and,if applicable,prepare a recommendation to the Board of County Co'nunissioners regarding the establishment of a voluntary agricultural district. The Chair will notify the applicant by mail of the Board's decision as to whether the real property for which certification is sought satisfies the criteria established in Section V and has been certified as qualifying farmland. If application was also sought for designation as a voluntary agricultural district,the Chair will notify the applicant of the Board's recommendation concerning such designation. 4. Upon receipt of the recommendation of the Board,the Board of County Commissioners may consider an application for establishment of a voluntary agricultural district. In deciding whether to establish a district, the Board of County Commissioners shall consider the findings of the Orange County Tax Supervisor and