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12 <br /> PART I-GENERAL ORDINANCES <br /> Chapter 48-VOLUNTARY FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM <br /> assessments in addition to waiver of water and sewer assessments is available to all participants <br /> in Enhanced Districts. <br /> (Ord. of 03-24-1992, Art. X, eff. 04-01-1992; Amend. of 04-17-2000, eff. 04-17-2000; Amend. of <br /> 04-20-2010, eff. 04-20-2010) <br /> Sec. 48-11. -Public hearings. <br /> (a) Purpose. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-740, no State or local public agency or governmental <br /> unit may formally initiate any action to condemn any interest in qualifying farmland within an Agricultural <br /> District until such agency or unit has requested the Board to hold a public hearing on the proposed <br /> condemnation. <br /> (b) Procedure. <br /> (1) Upon receiving a request, the Board shall publish notice describing the proposed action in <br /> the appropriate newspapers of Orange County within five business days of the request, and will in <br /> the same notice notify the public of a public hearing on the proposed condemnation, to be held <br /> within ten days of receipt of the request. <br /> (2) The Board shall meet to review: <br /> a. Whether the need for the project has been satisfactorily established by the agency or <br /> unit of government involved, including a review of any fiscal impact analysis conducted by <br /> the agency involved; and <br /> b. Whether there are alternatives to the proposed action that have less impact and are <br /> less disruptive to the agricultural activities of the Agricultural District within which the <br /> proposed action is to take place. <br /> (3) The Board shall consult with the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and <br /> Recreation, County Agricultural Extension Agent, the Natural Resources Conservation Service <br /> District Conservationist, and any other individuals, agencies, or organizations deemed by the <br /> Board to be necessary for its review of the proposed action. <br /> (4) Within five business days after the hearing, the Board shall make a report containing its <br /> findings and recommendations regarding the proposed action. The report shall be made available <br /> to the public prior to its being conveyed to the decision-making body of the agency proposing the <br /> acquisition. <br /> (5) There will be a period of ten days allowed for public comment on the report of the Board. <br /> (6) After the ten-day period for public comment has expired, the Board shall submit a final report <br /> containing all of its findings and recommendations regarding the proposed action to the decision <br /> making body of the agency proposing the acquisition. <br /> (7) The total time period, from the day that a request for a hearing has been received to the day <br /> that a final report is issued to the decision making body of the agency proposing the acquisition, <br /> shall not exceed 30 days. If the agency agrees to an extension, the agency and the Board shall <br /> mutually agree upon a schedule to be set forth in writing and made available to the public. <br /> (8) Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-740, the Board of Commissioners shall not permit any <br /> Orange County, North Carolina, Code of Ordinances <br /> Page 9 of 13 <br />