Agenda - 05-22-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION (UNIVERSAL FOR CLASS B, C AND D) 1) No assessment or fee for water and sewer extensions as long as no use is make of the extension by the farmland owner. 2) Disclosure statement required for all land transfers on tracts within 600 ft. of a farm unit informing purchasers of the preferred and pre-existing nature of the agricultural use of the adjoining tract and the County law assessing plaintiffs with legal fees for frivolous law suits. 3) All farms will be shown on Orange County land records with the warning mentioned in item #2 above and the statement that land in this area is inside or near a farming community. 4) Mandatory public hearing on agricultural impact resulting from proposed use of eminent domain to acquire farmland. • findings presented to the decision -making body of the agency proposed acquisition (e.g. N.C. board of Transportation) and to the N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture. The N.C. Secretary of Agriculture would then have the power to veto of the agency governing board required to over-ride such a veto.1 5) Al]. attorney's fees in nuisance suits brought against Class B, C, or D farms will be assessed against the plaintiffs bringing the suit if the Court deems the suit frivolous.' REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATION (MANDATORY FOR CLASS B, C, and D PARTICIPATION) 1) The farm must be certified by SCS as being composed of at least two-thirds "prime or locally-important" farmland. 2) The farm must develop and adhere to SCS-approved Erosion Control Practices that are addressed to "critical areas" and administered by the Agriculture Advisory Board. 3) The farm must qualify under the existing North Carolina Use Taxation Program. The definition of farm for the Orange County program is similar to the State law (use value taxation) . 1- NOTE: General Assembly action would be necessary to permit this benefit. 2- Soil Conservation Service (SCS)