Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
19 <br /> DRAFT <br /> ITEM#6: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR DECISION <br /> a. Voluntary Agricultural District Application-Mapleview Farm <br /> Presentation by Don Belk. <br /> This item is to consider the application of Robert P.Nutter for certification of Mapleview <br /> Farm as qualifying farmland and designation as a Voluntary Agricultural District. <br /> Section IV.D.2.of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance permits the <br /> Agricultural Districts Advisory Board to review and approve applications for qualifying <br /> farmland and make recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of <br /> agricultural districts. <br /> Section V of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance contains the <br /> requirements for inclusion in a voluntary agricultural district. To be certified as <br /> qualifying farmland,a farm must: <br /> 1. Be participating in the farm present use-value taxation program established by the <br /> N.C.General Statutes,Sections 105-277.2 through 105-277.7,or is otherwise <br /> determined by the County to meet all the qualifications of this program set forth in <br /> the N.C.General Statutes, Sections 105-277.3. <br /> 2. Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States <br /> Department of Agriculture as being a farm on which at least two-thirds of the land is <br /> composed of soils that: <br /> a. Are best suited for providing food,seed,fiber,forage,timber,and oil seed <br /> crops; <br /> b. Have good soil qualities; <br /> c. Are favorable for all major crops common to Orange County; <br /> d. Have a favorable growing season; <br /> e. Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of <br /> eight(8)out of ten(10)years; <br /> OR be one on which at least two-thirds of the land has been actively used in <br /> agricultural,horticultural or forestry operations as defined in the N.C.General <br /> Statutes,Section 105-277.2(1,2,and 3),during each of the five(5)previous years, <br /> measured from the date on which the determination must be made as to whether the <br /> land in question qualifies. <br /> 3. Be managed,if highly erodible land exists on the farm,in accordance with the <br /> Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion-control practices as <br /> specified in the 1985 Food Security Act. <br /> The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Office and the Tax Supervisor have <br /> provided memoranda which indicate that the Mapleview Farm complies with the stated <br /> requirements. In addition,the Mapleview Farm is comprised of one tract,totaling 364.75 <br /> acres. Thus,the acreage requirement of Section V.B.La is satisfied,since the farm <br /> consists of at least 80 contiguous acres. <br /> The Planning Staff recommends that the farm of Robert P.Nutter be certified as <br /> qualifying farmland and recommended for designation as a voluntary agricultural district <br /> to the Board of Commissioners. <br /> Attachment#6 <br />