APB agenda 122000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1� For example, signage could be placed identifying a "Orange County park - farm". Kleese suggested identifing an area that is going to be under severe pressure, and build a data base of areas that we should focus on. Once this is done, vote on the top 3 or 5 focus areas and, develop criteria on primary pressures, developments, water /sheds, and prime farmland. Strayhorn said if we need to find some way to offer enough benefits to encourage people to join up under voluntary agricultural districts (VAD) program. It s a commitment on their part, if there is some value to it and, that would be the most economic way we could ever get land put into continued agriculture and farming for at least a set period. The issue was raised that the VAD contract document was too complicated. Staff is developing a draft of less complicated contract for APB review. ITEM #5: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION a. September 27 Joint Meeting/Follow -up Dates Stancil thanked everyone for their new ideas at the September meeting and asked for any follow -up ideas. Recor wanted to see a way for people with less than 80 acres to participate in the VAD program. Staff was requested to research how other counties interpret the state statutes such as individual farms vs. large sections of a county VAD. b. Voluntary Agricultural Districts Incentives Report Moon presented a report on incentives for voluntary agricultural districts. A two -tier approach as suggested at a previous APB meeting was discussed as written in the handout. Tier One includes ideas on the local the level that the BOCC could pursue, such as Simplify the VAD legal agreement; Work in conjunction with NCDOT to lower the speed limit within VADS's; pursuing allowing farms with less than 80 acres to participate; encourage farmland preservation as a part of the Million Acres program; provide business planning and estate planning free to VAD participants; create incentives to promote the preservation and reuse of farm buildings and supporting structures; establish a demonstration farm program to help farmers convert to more profitable multi -year corps; and develop a program with 10 -year renewable easements and installment purchase easements (PA's) as short-term options to farmers in VADs — with long term options as well. Tier Two included a tax exemption or deferral ideas, such as a property tax exemption for farm buildings, machinery, and equipment; a fifty- percent deferral of use -value access property taxes; a property tax abatement on land donated as a conservation easement; including farms to DRAFT Page 4 of 5