Agenda - 09-20-2011 - 5m; VAD - Maple View Farm-Nutter

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~~4C~MG1,(' J DRAFT AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD -MEETING SUMMARY August 17, 2011 MEMBERS PRESENT: Roland Walters, Elizabeth Walters, Howard McAdams, Altan Green, Spence Dickinson, Joe Thompson, Patrick McGarry and Kim Woods MEMBERS ABSENT/EXCUSED: Lynette Batt and Louise Tate GUESTS: STAFF: Carl Matyac, Orange Cooperative Extension Service Tina Moon, Natural and Cultural Resources Division, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation ITEM #1: CALL TQ ORDER Chair Roland Walters called the meeting to order at 7:38 p,m., and welcomed Kim Woods to the Agricultural Preservation Board. Members of the APB went around the table and introduced themselves. ITEM #2:- CHAIR COMMENTS None. ITEM #3: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA None ITEM #4: APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 18, 2011 Green motioned to approve the minutes from the May 18, 2011 APB meeting; Thompson seconded the motion. The APB voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes from May 18, 2011. APPROVAL OF MEETING SUMMARY July 20, 2011 E. Walters noted a correction in the meeting summary (no quorum) from July. E. Walters motioned to approve the corrected minutes; Green seconded the motion. The APB members voted unanimously to approve the meeting summary from July 20, 2011. ITEM #5: ITEMS FOR DECISION a. Maple View Farm VAD Staff introduced the Nutter's voluntary agricultural district application for Maple View Farm. Moon explained that the early conservation agreements associated with VADs expired after the ten-year period requiring renewals. (The revised agreements that the County currently uses automatically renew unless the farmer wishes to withdraw from the program.) In this case, rather than just renew the application, the Nutters decided to update their tract information with a fresh application. At the time of their original application, Maple View Farm consisted of one large tract. Since that time, the family has subdivided portions of the property. The new application reflects those changes and includes some new sections of land. Green asked about the Agricultural Education Center. Moon reported that the APB discussed the Agricultural Educational Center when it was under development to determine whether that portion of the farm needed to be removed from the VAD. After discussion, APB members agreed that the Center was not inconsistent with the purpose of the VAD program; the APB did not consider the Center to be an example of "non-farm development" and therefore it could remain part of the overall Voluntary Agricultural District. In their new application, the Nutters have decided to omit the twenty acres used for the Agricultural Educational Center from their Voluntary Agricultural District; however, they have added a few new agricultural tracts so that the total acreage for the Maple View VAD is about 382 acres. Staff reviewed the approval process for voluntary agricultural districts applications. Woods motioned that the Agricultural Preservation Board recommend Maole View Farm for the Voluntary Agricultural District 14 August 17, 2011 Draft Minutes