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a <br />b, Have good sail qualities; <br />c, Are favorable for all major crops common to Orange County; <br />d. Have a favorable growing season; <br />e. Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of <br />eight (8) out of ten (10) years; <br />OR be one on which at least twc-thirds of the land has been actively used in <br />agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations as defined in the N,C. General <br />Statutes, Section 105-277.2 (1,2, and 3), during each of the five (5) previous years, <br />measured from the date an which the determination must be made as to whether <br />the land in question qualifies, <br />3. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service defined erosion-control practices as specified in the <br />1985 Food Security Act. <br />The Natural Resources Conservation Service Office and the Tax Supervisor have provided <br />memoranda (attached) which indicate that the Walters property (TM #2.42.,5A) satisfies the <br />above requirements (see Attachments #3 and #4).. In addition, the property in question contains <br />173 acres and meets the 80-acre minimum size requirement for individual Orange County <br />VADs. <br />To be designated as a Voluntary Agricultural District, the District must be approved by the <br />Board of Commissicners. Following this approval, the property owner signs a conservation <br />agreement, as provided in the North Carolina General Statutes, between Orange County and <br />the owner that prohibits non-farm use or development of such land for a period of at least ten <br />(10) years, except for the creation of not more than three (3) lots that meet applicable Orange <br />County zoning and subdivision regulations (see Attachment #6). The property owner may leave <br />the program by providing a written notice. <br />At its August 18, 2004 meeting, the Agricultural Preservation Board voted unanimously to <br />approve the certification of the Walters tract as qualifying farmland, and to recommend its <br />formal designation as part of the Walters' existing Voluntary Agricultural District located along <br />High Rock Road in Cedar Grove Township. The addition of this land would bring the total <br />acreage in the Voluntary Agricultural District program in Orange County to 2,052 acres. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the 173 acres of the Walters <br />property be certified as qualifying farmland and designated as an addition to the existing <br />Walters Voluntary Agricultural District, <br />