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8 <br /> 5) Owners Dennis and Linda Brooks have submitted an application to enroll two (2) <br /> parcels of land totaling 113.84 acres as qualifying farmland for the Enhanced Voluntary <br /> Agricultural District (EVAD) program in the New Hope Agricultural District. The farm <br /> operation includes beef cattle, horses, pastures, and hay crops. The farm also includes <br /> managed woodland. The Brooks Farm has a Conservation Easement with Orange <br /> County on the farm, and installed riparian buffers along the streams through their <br /> property to protect Hillsborough's water supply. The Brooks Farm has been evaluated <br /> against each of the VAD certification requirement standards and meets or exceeds all <br /> of the measures above. <br /> Orange County Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program <br /> Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Program <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners Meeting <br /> December 5, 2016 <br /> Orange County VAD/EVAD Program <br /> Benefits of Agricultural Districts <br /> ➢ Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) is a 10 year commitment for farm to be in active <br /> farm production, but the landowner can withdraw from the VAD at any time, for any <br /> reason, with a 30 day notification to the Agri. Preservation Board. <br /> ➢ Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) is an irrevocable 10 year <br /> commitment to be in active farm production, therefore the "enhanced" qualifies farm for <br /> up to 90% cost share rates and a priority for state and federal 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 property is recorded at County Land Records <br /> office; <br /> ➢ Land search on all properties within a 1/2 mile radius has notification of the agricultural <br /> status, therefore, the agricultural landowner has increased protection from nuisance <br /> lawsuits. <br /> ➢ Agricultural Preservation Board can request public hearings for proposed <br /> condemnation of VAD land and utility assessments may be suspended or waived on <br /> 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 /> ➢ VAD District signs are placed on farms, for public to know location of VAD/EVAD farms. <br /> Paul and Patricia Bonham <br /> Schley/Eno Agricultural District <br /> Farm includes hay crops, pasture, wildlife habitat, and woodland/forestry acres <br /> VAD = 116.85 acres (2 parcels) <br /> Michael Milligan and Alicia Carter <br /> New Hope Agricultural District <br /> Farm includes pumpkins, Christmas trees, chickens, and managed woodland/forestry acres. <br /> VAD = 31.87 acres <br /> (2 parcels) <br />