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17 <br /> PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT <br /> ORDINANCE: Voluntary Farmland Preservation Ordinance <br /> REFERENCE: Section V.B. 1. <br /> ORIGIN OF AMENDMENT: _X Staff Planning Board BOCC Citizen <br /> STAFF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION: _X High Middle Low <br /> PUBLIC HEARING DATE: May 24, 1993 <br /> PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT: To clarify that "rounding off" is permitted <br /> in determining the minimum farm size required <br /> for participation in the voluntary <br /> agricultural districts program [80 acres] . <br /> IMPACTS/ISSUES: On September 22 , 1992, the Voluntary Farmland <br /> Preservation Program Ordinance was amended by the <br /> Board of Commissioners, reducing minimum farm size <br /> required for participation in the voluntary <br /> agricultural districts program from 155 to 80 <br /> acres. <br /> On March 8, 1993, the Board of Commissioners <br /> designated the property of John Frank Morris as a <br /> voluntary agricultural district. The property <br /> consisted of 79.75 acres or 80 acres rounded off. <br /> The County Attorney suggested that an amendment to <br /> the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Ordinance be <br /> prepared which clarified that "rounding off" was <br /> permissible in determining whether or not a <br /> tract qualified for district designation. <br /> EXISTING ORDINANCE PROVISIONS: <br /> Section V - APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFYING <br /> FARMLAND AND VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS <br /> B. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL <br /> DISTRICT <br /> 1. An agricultural district shall initially consist of: <br /> a. At least 80 contiguous acres of certified <br /> qualifying farmland; or <br /> b. At least two or more certified qualifying farms, <br /> contiguous to each other, which will create a <br /> district of not less than 80 acres. <br /> In addition, small tracts or lots, when surrounded by or <br /> adjacent to certified qualifying farms, may be added to <br />