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26 <br /> 1-21-93 Final Version <br /> occur in open space set-asides and enable farmers to realize <br /> a return on portions of their land without converting all land <br /> for development purposes . Where developers use open-space <br /> options to keep farmland in cultivation or pasture, allow them <br /> to utilize density bonuses elsewhere on the tract. Encourage <br /> the Planning Department to provide design assistance and model <br /> covenants to landowners/developers willing to utilize this <br /> approach. <br /> 2 . Pursue Voluntary Transfer of Development Rights (VTDR) <br /> legislation for Orange County. TDR can be an important tool in <br /> protecting critical masses of agricultural land by creating <br /> receiving areas where concentrations of employment and <br /> residences occur along future transit corridors. An Orange <br /> County TDR Support Group should be established to work <br /> parallel with the regional effort in order to lay appropriate <br /> groundwork for implementing this tool when legislation is <br /> adopted. Further study should be given to a regional program <br /> with other Triangle-area counties . <br /> 3 . Encourage property owners interested in managed forestry to <br /> preserve forest lands through participation in the N.C. Forest <br /> Stewardship Program. This program is designed to improve tree <br /> management and enhance wildlife habitats, while offering the <br /> potential for tax breaks and/or cash payments to landowners <br /> who actively pursue management practices such as selective <br /> timber harvesting and who enhance wildlife habitats. <br /> 4 . Promote participation in the voluntary agricultural districts <br /> program, thus minimizing potential nuisance suits. <br /> 5 . Encourage the Economic Development Commission to pursue its <br /> Strategic Plan objective of promoting agriculture as an <br /> industry, including assistance in product diversification. <br /> 6 . Support efforts by the Agricultural District Advisory Board <br /> to implement a Purchase of Development Rights program to <br /> preserve "critical masses" of farmland, including the <br /> development and use of a Land Evaluation and Site Assessment <br /> (LESA) system with which to rank/compare sites for development <br /> rights acquisition. <br /> 7 . Support construction of the planned Rural Education Center, <br /> which would serve as an educational facility for County-based <br /> rural agencies, and serve to enhance agribusiness <br /> opportunities in the county. <br /> 8. Following implementation of voluntary OSD options, prepare an <br /> annual report for the Board of Commissioners and Planning <br /> Board evaluating the impact of various development options on <br /> 6 <br />