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13 <br /> <br />7) Owners Tracy Lafleur and Robert VanVeld have submitted an application to enroll one (1) <br />parcel of land totaling 39.94 acres of qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District <br />(VAD) program in the Cedar Grove Agricultural District. The farm operation includes vegetable <br />crops, hay crops, and beehives. The farm property has been evaluated against each of the VAD <br />certification requirement standards and meets or exceeds all of the measures above. <br /> <br />8) Owners Stephen and Marsha Scarlett have submitted an application to enroll additional acres <br />into the VAD program. A revision of ownership on one (1) parcel of land, totaling <br />53.94 acres, will increase the acres in the program by 23.27 acres of qualifying farmland for the <br />Voluntary Agricultural District program in the Cedar Grove Agricultural District. The farm <br />operation includes livestock, pasture, hay crops, and managed woodland. The farm property <br />has been evaluated against each of the VAD certification requirement standards and meets or <br />exceeds all of the measures above. <br /> <br />Gail Hughes made the following PowerPoint presentation: <br /> <br />Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District Program <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners Meeting <br />December 3, 2018 <br /> <br />Orange County VAD/EVAS Program <br />Benefits of Agricultural Districts <br /> <br /> Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) is a 10-year commitment for farm to be in active <br />farm production, but the landowner can withdraw from the VAD at any time, for any <br />reason, with a 30-day notification to the Agri. Preservation Board. <br /> Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) is an irrevocable 10 year <br />commitment to be in active farm production, therefore the “enhanced” qualifies farm for <br />up to 90% cost share rates and a priority for state and federal grants funds. <br /> <br /> Benefits include: (listing a few) <br /> Makes public more aware of the local agricultural and its vital role in the economics of <br />the county; <br /> Recorded notice of agricultural district property is recorded at County Land Records <br />office; <br /> Land search on all properties within a ½ mile radius has notification of the agricultural <br />status; therefore, the agricultural landowner has increased protection from nuisance <br />lawsuits. <br /> Agricultural Preservation Board can request public hearings for proposed condemnation <br />of VAD land and utility assessments may be suspended or waived on EVAD land if not <br />connected to the utility. <br /> Farm may receive up to 25% of gross sales from the sale of non-farm products and still <br />maintain its zoning exemption as a bona fide farm. (EVAD only) <br /> VAD District signs are placed on farms, for public to know location of VAD/EVAD farms <br /> <br />Bryant and Nancy Walker <br />• VAD – 72.25 acres – Caldwell Agricultural District – 2 parcels of land <br />• Livestock, pasture, hay crops, and managed woodland <br />• Century Farm –same family ownership over 100 years <br /> <br />Charles Blalock