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1/7 5 . Bold joint public hearings with the Orange County Board of <br /> mm <br /> Coissioners on public projects likely to have an impact on 10 <br /> 1 <br /> agricultural operations within Orange County; <br /> 6 . Advise the Board of County Commissioners on projects , <br /> programs or issues affecting the agricultural economy or <br /> activities within the county and that will affect agricultural <br /> districts; <br /> 7 . Study additional methods of farmland preservation and make <br /> recommendations to the Orange County Board of Commissioners; <br /> and <br /> 8 . Perform other related tasks or duties assigned by the Orange <br /> County Board of County Commissioners . <br /> Section V - APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFYING <br /> FARMLAND AND VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS <br /> A. PURPOSE <br /> The purpose of voluntary agricultural districts is to increase <br /> identity and pride in the agricultural community and its way of <br /> life, and to increase protection from nuisance suits and other <br /> negative impacts on properly-managed farms. <br /> B. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT <br /> 1 . An agricultural district shall initially consist of: <br /> a. At least 80 contiguous acres of certified qualifying <br /> farmland; or (Amended 9/22/92) <br /> b. At least two or more certified qualifying farms , <br /> contiguous to each other, which will create a district of <br /> not less than 80 acres. (Amended 9/22/92) <br /> In addition, small tracts or lots, when surrounded by or <br /> adjacent to certified qualifying farms, may be added to <br /> and thereby included in an existing or proposed voluntary <br /> agricultural district. (Amended 2/22/93) <br /> 2 . The owners of the qualifying farmland must execute an <br /> agreement with Orange County to sustain agriculture in the <br /> District. <br /> 3 . Qualifying farmland may be added to existing districts upon <br /> execution by the owner of an agreement to sustain agriculture. <br /> 4 . In the event that one or more participants in the District <br /> withdraw and the acreage in the District becomes less <br /> than the minimum acreage required or results in the remaining <br /> land being non-contiguous, a voluntary agricultural district <br />