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Chair McKee referred to the petition regarding the Rogers Road Community Center, <br /> and he asked Jeff Thompson to give a report. <br /> Jeff Thompson said the facility has a temporary Certificate of Occupancy (CO), but <br /> there are some issues that the Chapel Hill inspections staff is working through. He said the <br /> facility is not being withheld from occupancy, but town staff has requested that major <br /> programming activity be postponed until those issues are resolved. He said this should <br /> happen any day now. <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> a. Voluntary and Enhanced Aqricultural District Desiqnation — Multiple Farms — <br /> Gledhill, McAdams, Anderson, McKniqht/Hawley, and Scarlett <br /> The Board considered applications from multiple landowners/farms of certified <br /> qualifying farmland within the Cedar Grove, Schley/Eno, Efland/High Rock, and White Cross <br /> Voluntary Agricultural Districts; and enroll the lands in the Orange County Voluntary <br /> Agricultural District (VAD) and the Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) programs. <br /> Gail Hughes presented the following PowerPoint slides: <br /> Orange County <br /> Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary <br /> Agricultural District Program <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners Meeting <br /> Dec. 1, 2014 <br /> Orange County VAD/EVAD Program <br /> Benefits of Agricultural Districts <br /> ➢ The Voluntary Agricultural Program is a locally led program, with review and oversight <br /> from the Agriculture Preservation Board (appointed by the BOCC); endorsed and <br /> supported by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. <br /> ➢ Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) is a 10 year commitment but the landowner can <br /> withdraw from the VAD program at any time, for any reason, with a 30 day notification <br /> to the Agriculture Preservation Board. <br /> ➢ Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) is an irrevocable 10 year commitment, <br /> therefore the "enhanced" level qualifies farm for 90% cost share rates -through State <br /> programs- and a priority for Farmland Preservation grants funds. <br /> Benefits include: <br /> ➢ Makes public more aware of the local agricultural and its vital role in the economics of <br /> the county; <br /> ➢ Recorded notice of agricultural district is recorded at County Land Records office; <br /> ➢ Land search on all properties within a '/2 mile radius is notified of the agricultural status, <br /> therefore, the landowner has increased protection from nuisance lawsuits. <br /> ➢ Public hearings for proposed condemnation of VAD land and utility assessments may <br /> be suspended or waived on EVAD land if not connected to the utility. <br /> ➢ Farm may receive up to 25% of gross sales from the sale of non-farm products and still <br /> maintain its zoning exemption as a bona fide farm. (EVAD only) <br /> Geoffrey and Jane Gledhill <br />