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5a <br />3. Farming activities would continue and be <br />encouraged on the land. <br />4. Development rights purchased by the County <br />would be held in trust, assuring that areas <br />with good soils and active farms will remain in <br />agricultural use. <br />(A complete discussion of the program is provided in <br />Report #2.) <br />Other Concerns <br />While the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board has <br />completed the majority of its work, a continuing <br />question has been has been - What is the primary <br />goal of a PDR Program? The Advisory Board has <br />focused almost exclusively on a program which <br />promotes agricultural preservation. It is through <br />the LESA system that watershed protection and <br />natural areas preservation have been addressed. <br />Another concern is the need for a full complement of <br />members. Presently, only five of nine members have <br />been appointed to the Advisory Board. A <br />representative from the development community and <br />three persons actively engaged in farming remain to <br />be appointed. <br />A final concern is the role of the Advisory Board <br />after the completion of the PDR proposal. Should the <br />Advisory Board pursue a Transfer of Development <br />Rights proposal? Should it draft an ordinance <br />implementing Article 61 and G.S. 106 (copy <br />attached)? Should it identify potential agricultural <br />districts using the LESA system and work with the <br />farm community for designation of such districts? <br />Should it pursue identification of active farms on <br />the land records system of the County? <br />RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends: <br />1. That the Board of Commissioners provide <br />comments in reaction to the report from the <br />Agricultural Districts Advisory Board with <br />regard to the following points: <br />a. The work completed to date, including the <br />level of emphasis given to agricultural <br />preservation in the PDR Program proposal; <br />b. The Commissioners' view of the future role <br />of the Agricultural Districts Advisory <br />Board; and <br />