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Plan could lead to zoning Ti wysiwyg://rightside.bottom.5/http: ... /2001/01-04/01-04-0 1 /region - l .html �1 Cars Plan could lead to zoning Yanceyville By Joseph Cigna Times -News By Sending.. t c er311OM Flowers 01/03/31 Caswell County's farmland preservation program should help protect a way of life, but some also see it as a preliminary step toward countywide zoning. "Counties across the state are seeing a lot of development, and this is something that protects the farmer's right to farm," Commissioner David Wrenn said. "Also, a farmer can continue to farm and operate his business in the way he's accustomed to." The program, approved by county commissioners earlier this month, is similar to the one recently passed by Alamance County. It is designed to promote agriculture and protect farmers from encroaching development by establishing voluntary agricultural districts. It also requires prospective developers and residents be informed they are moving into an agricultural area. A minimum of 20 contiguous acres of qualified farmland is required for a district. Farmers can voluntarily withdraw from the program at any time. Notices will be placed on tax maps, and signs will be erected along major roads to identify designated agricultural districts. Pelham tobacco farmer George Ward said he plans to participate in the program. "I think the plan will be very effective," Ward said. "With the growth all over the area and county, where people want to live here and commute to their j obs, this will let them know that this is where tobacco farming, cattle raising and other agricultural production are going on." The program is a good first step in helping the county's nearly 1,000 farmers, said Ricky Williams, N.C. Agricultural Extension Service agent for Caswell County. "I think that it could be a really positive starting point," Williams said. "It should allow us to take care of our agricultural land because things are different today as opposed to 50 years ago when a farm was a farm, and it stayed that way." David Vernon, a Caswell resident who has called for controlled development, said although the program will give farmers some protection, zoning will be necessary if agriculture is to continue to flourish in Caswell County. "It's a good plan, and it should have been done, but the county is still not protected from developers, and the farmer and the taxpayers are not," Vernon said. "If uncontrolled development proceeds as it has, then county services like schools, fire protection, EMS will have to be expanded, and taxes will rise. "We need zoning for our long -term fiscal protection and for all the other benefits zoning would bring to all the residents and the farmers," he said. Countywide zoning is probably inevitable, Wrenn said. "I think we're going to do it, and we're already making steps in that direction," he said. 1 of 2 4 /11 /2001 11:13 AM