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12 <br />u <br />of the County to hold assessments in abeyance under N.C. Gen. Stat. <br />Section 153A -201. <br />Section S - LAND -USE INCENTIVES TO <br />VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT FORMATION <br />A. PURPOSE <br />The purpose of this section is to help meet the needs of <br />agriculture as an industry in Orange County and prevent conflicts <br />between voluntary agricultural district participants and non -farm <br />landowners in proximity to districts. <br />B. PROCEDURE <br />1. Land -use planning decisions and ordinances affecting parcels <br />of land adjacent to any district shall take into account the <br />existence of such district and the purpose of this ordinance. <br />2. Orange County shall not enact ordinances applicable within an <br />agricultural district in a manner which unreasonably restricts <br />or regulates farm structures or forestry farming practices <br />unless such restrictions or regulations bear a direct <br />relationship to the public health and safety. <br />3. The County shall not spend monies to convert land to non -farm <br />uses in voluntary agricultural districts. <br />Section %I - NORTH CAROLINA AGENCY NOTIFICATION <br />A. The Board may consult with the North Carolina Department of <br />Agriculture, the North Carolina Division of Soil and Water, and any <br />other entity the Board deems necessary to the proper conduct of its <br />business. <br />B. A copy of this ordinance shall be recorded with the North Carolina <br />Commissioner of Agriculture's Office after adoption. At least once <br />a year, the County shall submit a written report to the <br />Commissioner of Agriculture including the status, progress, and <br />activities of the County's farmland preservation program, which <br />report may include voluntary agricultural districting information <br />regarding: <br />1. Number of landowners involved in the program; <br />2. Number of acres for which qualifying farmland certification <br />has been applied for; <br />3. Number of acres certified as qualifying farmland; <br />4. Number of acres denied certification as qualifying farmland; <br />and <br />5. Number of districts in Orange County. <br />