Agenda - 09-21-2004-5k; VAD - Walters, Carl and Elizabeth

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c. Update on Proposed Agricultural Conservation Easements and USD ~~ Grant Application Earlier this .year Orange County in collaboration with the Orange NRCS/Soil and Water Conservation District applied for $846,000 in federal grant funds from the USDA Farm and Ranch Land Preservation program (FRPP). These funds are available to local governments and land trusts to acquire conservation easements that protect prime agricultural lands. This is the third ,year funds have been available from the FRPP. In 2002, Orange County was awarded $784,000 of the $2.1 million allocated fo N. C. Those funds are being used fo protect about 400 acres of farmland in Bingham, Cheeks, and Gedar Grove townships. Stancil reported that the Orange County's Lands Legacy Program has been awarded three matching grants totaling $638,840 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, The County had applied earlier this year for funds to help acquire conservation easements on three local farms, The total acreage of these three easements is expected to be around 500 acres. One of the farms in located in southwestern Orange County; the other two farms are located in the north central part of the county. All of the farms are evaluated by NRCS and County staff to ensure a history of good resource management and active resource conservation plans. All three farms will be identified in the next few weeks after owners are notified of the grant and other preliminary paperwork is filed, Members discussed the time frame from the selection period until the actual payment and asked about the total amount of protected farmland in the county. Stancil summarized the approximate negotiation timetable between the different parties, He reviewed that since its inception in April 2000, the Lands Legacy Program has protected 1,090 acres of land, with another 300 acres pending acquisition, Of this amount, Lands Legacy holds seven conservation easements totaling 369 acres, with another 263 acres in three additional approved easements that are nearing completion, Of Lands Legacy's current and pending easements, most are agricultural conservation easements designed to protect prime and threatened farmland for future generations. The three new easements would bring the Lands Legacy total to 1,853 acres, with 1,131 acres in easements. Members applauded the diligent efforts by everyone in recruiting landowners to participate and in pursuing funding. ITEM #5: ITEMS FOR DECISION a. Walters VAD application Staff reported the receipt of an application from the Walters to enlarge their existing Voluntary Agricultural District with another adjacent tract, ERCD Staff has received responses from the Tax Assessor and the Natural Resources Ganservation Service regarding the application, and the tract in question meets the criteria for qualifying farmland, The next step, subject to the review and approval of the APB, is for staff to submit the application before the Board of County Commissioners for their consideration. Members commended the Walters' desire to enlarge their existing district and their continued dedication to the preservation of farmland in Orange County. MOTION: Warren motioned approval and asked for staff to prepare a recommendation for the BOCC for the establishment of a voluntary agricultural district, Seconded by Mandell and Ranells, VOTE: Unanimous, Walters recluses. DRAP i August I8, 2004 Agricultural Preservation Doard Meeting Summary