Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
5 <br /> PART I-GENERAL ORDINANCES <br /> Chapter 48-VOLUNTARY FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM <br /> the loss of productive and existing farmland by promoting agricultural values and the general welfare of <br /> the County, recognize the existence of important farmlands by seeking to minimize risks of nuisance <br /> suits that arise from the onset of other land uses, encourage participation in voluntary programs to <br /> preserve and protect farmland from non-farm development and increase identity and awareness of the <br /> agricultural community, and its role in the economic and cultural quality of life for all County residents. <br /> (Ord. of 03-24-1992,Art. III, eff. 04-01-1992; Amend. of 06-23-2005, eff. 06-23-2005) <br /> Sec. 48-4. -Definitions. <br /> The following are defined for purposes of this Ordinance: <br /> Agricultural district:Voluntary Agricultural District and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District. <br /> Board: Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board. <br /> Board of commissioners:Orange County Board of Commissioners. <br /> Certified qualifying farm: A farm that has met the criteria as a "qualifying farm" above, and has <br /> executed the provisions of subsection 48-7(a), including the conservation agreement as specified <br /> herein. <br /> Chair.- Chairperson of the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board. <br /> District:Voluntary Agricultural District as established by this Ordinance. <br /> Enhanced district. Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District as established by this ordinance. <br /> Qualifying farm:A farm that has met the qualification criteria set out in section 48-7 of this ordinance, is <br /> certified for the Voluntary or Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District Program. <br /> (Ord. of 03-24-1992, Art. IV, eff. 04-01-1992; Amend. of 04-17-2000; Amend. of 06-23-2005, eff. <br /> 06-23-2005; Amend. of 04-20-2010, eff. 04-20-2010) <br /> Sec. 48-5. -Agricultural preservation board. <br /> (a) Creation. An Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board, consisting of seven initial members <br /> appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, is hereby established. The Agricultural Preservation <br /> Board shall consist of up to seven at-large members plus one member from each Agricultural District <br /> Region created and existing under this Ordinance, with members selected from Certified Qualifying <br /> Farms within Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts, appointed by the Board of <br /> County Commissioners. Additional appointments may be made to satisfy the requirements of <br /> subsection 48-5(b)(1)(b) of this Ordinance. <br /> (b) Membership. <br /> (1) Requirements. <br /> a. Each Board member shall be a resident of Orange County. <br /> b. Each Agricultural District existing pursuant to this ordinance shall be represented on the <br /> Board by a person owning farmland on a Certified Qualifying Farm within the Agricultural <br /> District. The Board of County Commissioners shall appoint the Agricultural District <br /> Orange County, North Carolina, Code of Ordinances <br /> Page 2 of 13 <br />