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7 <br />5. Hold joint public hearings with the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners on public projects likely to have an impact on <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. Voluntary agricultural districts are hereby established in Orange <br />County. <br />B. 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 />C. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT <br />1. An agricultural district shall initially consist of: <br />a. At least 155 contiguous acres of certified qualifying <br />farmland; or <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 155 acres. <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 />will continue to exist so long as there is one qualifying <br />farm. <br />