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24 <br /> Step 5 - Acceptance of Offer. Upon receipt of an offer to sell, the County Attorney would <br /> present the offer to the Board of Commissioners to accept, reject or authorize further negotiation. Upon <br /> acceptance of an offer, the Board of Commissioners would authorize the County Attorney to conduct the <br /> necessary title examinations and close on the property. <br /> Step 6 - Closing: Upon preparation of the appropriate legal documents covering titles, deeds, <br /> surveys, and subordination agreements, a closing would be scheduled between the landowner and the <br /> County Attorney. At the closing, the owner would execute appropriate warranty documents conveying <br /> development rights to the County in perpetuity. After proper recordation of the necessary instruments, <br /> the landowner would be presented with a check.The County would bear all closing and related costs,and <br /> would be responsible for securely storing all pertinent records of the transaction. <br /> 8. Which land owners would be eligible? <br /> Landowners with parcels at least 25 acres in size and in agricultural,forestry or similar open space <br /> use would be eligible for participation in the program.This threshold is consistent with the minimum sized <br /> parcel needed for participation in the Preferential Assessment/Deferred Taxation Program as an <br /> agricultural use (20 acres). Smaller parcels would be considered if they were contiguous to land on which <br /> development rights had already been acquired. <br /> 10. What restrictions would be placed on land in the Purchase of Development Rights <br /> Program? <br /> Since the purpose of a PDR Program is to preserve agricultural land,restrictions on property use <br /> after acquisition of development rights should be carefully crafted Restrictions of the Forsyth County <br /> program include the following. ' <br /> a. Only pre-existing dwellings or their replacements are permitted on land from which <br /> development rights have been conveyed. However, a dwelling or dwellings intended for <br /> occupancy by an employee or tenant of the farm who earns a substantial part of his/her <br /> livelihood from the farm operation, or by a child or children of the landowner, are <br /> permitted. For employees, one dwelling per 100 acres may be constructed. For children, <br /> one dwelling per child up to a maximum of five dwellings is allowable. <br /> b. Where feasible,all permitted nonfarm structures must be located in the immediate vicinity <br /> of existing structures,e.g., the homestead or curtilege, or on the area(s)of the property of <br /> least productive capability. Such structures must utilize existing driveways, lanes or <br /> rights-of-way when feasible. . <br /> C. The extraction of minerals by surface mining, and the extraction and removal of topsoil <br /> frrom the property are prohibited. The extraction of subsurface or deep-mined minerals is <br /> permitted,provided the removal activity does not significantly diminish the agricultural <br /> potential of the land. <br /> d. The dumping, storage, processing or landfill of non-agricultural solid waste generated <br /> off-site and hazardous or nuclear waste is prohibited. <br /> e. Signs,billboards, and outdoor advertising structures cannot be displayed on the property <br /> except those which display the name and address of the property and occupant, those <br /> which advertise a permitted on-site activity, and those which advertise the property for <br /> sale or rent. <br />