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- Study additional methods of farmland preservation <br />and make recommendations to the Board of <br />Commissioners. <br />As voluntary agricultural districts are created, up <br />to eight (8) additional members may be appointed. <br />Such members must be landowners in a voluntary <br />agricultural district. <br />Farms which are part of a designated voluntary <br />agricultural district will be identified as such in <br />the Orange County Land Records System, and a notice <br />will be included to alert persons using the system <br />of all parcels that are within one -half mile of such <br />district(s). In addition, landowners belonging to <br />voluntary agricultural districts shall not be <br />assessed for or required to connect to Orange County <br />water and /or sewer systems. <br />At the February 24, 1992 public hearing, several <br />concerns were raised. These included the following: <br />1. Whether the minimum farm size (155 acres) <br />required for qualifying farmland status should <br />be reconsidered to recognize smaller, <br />specialized farms. (Comments concerning the <br />derivation of the minimum farm size are <br />provided on pages 8 -9 of this abstract.); <br />2. Whether the prohibition on County expenditures <br />to convert farmland to non -farm use should be <br />retained. (Comments concerning alternative <br />provisions are provided on page 16 of this <br />abstract.]; and <br />3. Whether the Agricultural Districts Advisory <br />Board is the appropriate body to officially <br />establish volunteer agricultural districts. <br />(Comments concerning alternative provisions are <br />provided on pages 11 -12 of this abstract.] <br />On March 2, 1992, the County Attorney and Planning <br />Director met to discuss the above mentioned issues. <br />Based on the results of the discussion, the <br />ordinance was revised and presented to the <br />Agricultural Districts Advisory Board at its meeting <br />of March 4, 1992. The Advisory Board recommended <br />approval of the ordinance with the following basic <br />changes: <br />1. The Agricultural Districts Advisory Board would <br />approve certifications of qualifying farmland <br />but only prepare recommendations regarding the <br />designation of agricultural districts. The <br />approval of agricultural districts would be the <br />