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SL2005 -0390 <br />GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA <br />SESSION 2005 <br />SESSION LAW 2005 -390 <br />HOUSE BILL 607 <br />Page 1 of 10 <br />104 <br />AN ACT TO RENAME THE FARMLAND PRESERVATION ENABLING ACT AND <br />FARMLAND PRESERVATION TRUST FUND AS THE AGRICULTURAL <br />DEVELOPMENT AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION ENABLING ACT AND THE <br />AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION TRUST <br />FUND AND TO AMEND THE ACT TO ESTABLISH A CATEGORY OF ENHANCED <br />VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS THAT OFFERS ADDITIONAL <br />BENEFITS FOR FARMLAND WHEN THE OWNER OF THE FARMLAND IS WILLING <br />TO ENTER INTO AN IRREVOCABLE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT FOR AT <br />LEAST TEN YEARS AND TO CREATE AN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND <br />FARMLAND PRESERVATION TRUST FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE. <br />Whereas, North Carolina's 53,000 farms provide food, fiber, economic activity, <br />wildlife habitat, natural resource protection, open spaces, cultural heritage, and fiscal savings to <br />the citizens of the State; and <br />Whereas, a productive and stable agricultural sector is important to farm families, <br />rural communities, local economies, and the State of North Carolina; and <br />Whereas, the Voluntary Agricultural Districts program is a popular, low -cost, locally <br />driven option that links farmers, elected officials, county staff, and the general public in <br />understanding and supporting the needs of agriculture; and <br />Whereas, landowners are looking for a wider range of options to help them develop <br />sustainable and profitable farms and pass them along to future generations; and <br />Whereas, expanding the Farmland Preservation Enabling Act and authorizing counties <br />and cities to establish a new category of agricultural district, an enhanced voluntary agricultural <br />district, will provide counties and cities with a wider range of options to protect farmland from <br />nonfarm development by providing programs within their jurisdictions that promote the growth, <br />sustainability, and profitability of farming operations; Now, therefore, <br />The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: <br />SECTION 1. The title of Article 61 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes reads as <br />rewritten: <br />"Article 61. <br />Agricultural Development and Preservation of Farmland." <br />SECTION 2. G.S. 106 -735 and G.S. 106 -736 are recodified as Part 1 of Article 61 of <br />Chapter 106 of the General Statutes, to be entitled "General Provisions ". <br />SECTION 3. G.S. 106 -737 throute h G.S. 106 -743 are recodified as Part 2 of Article <br />61 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes, to entitled "Voluntary Agricultural Districts ". <br />SECTION 4. G.S. 106 -744 is recodified as Part 4 of Article 61 of Chapter 106 of the <br />General Statutes, to be entitled "Agricultural Conservation Easements ". <br />SECTION 5. Article 61 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes is amended by <br />adding a new Part to read: <br />"Part 3. Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts. <br />106- 743.1. Enhanced voluntarry agricultural districts. <br />(a) A county or a municipality may adopt an ordinance establishiniz an enhanced <br />http: / /www.ncga.state.nc.us/ Sessions / 2005 /Bills/House/HTML/H607v6.html 9/21/2005 <br />