Agenda 03-01-22; 8-e - Approval of Revisions to Orange County Voluntary Farmland Protection Program Ordinance and Boundary Adjustment for the New Hope Voluntary Agricultural District

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2 A minor technical adjustment is also proposed to the boundary line of the New Hope Voluntary Agricultural District, which is one of the County's seven existing Voluntary Agricultural Districts. This is necessary because the original boundary lines, drawn in 1992, inadvertently excluded several parcels of eligible farmland located outside of the Hillsborough extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), near the Eno River, and just north of the junction of 1-40 and 1-85. The attached maps show this as follows: 1) the existing boundary southwest of Hillsborough; 2) the proposed boundary adjustment; and 3) a detailed map showing exactly where the line is proposed for relocation. The Agricultural Preservation Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on January 19, 2022, to recommend the approval of the new map showing the boundary adjustment. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. Voluntary Agricultural Districts are non-monetary and non-binding conservation agreements. Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts are non-monetary and are binding 10-year conservation agreements. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies. The Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program conserves, protects and encourages the preservation and improvement of agricultural land within the County boundaries as a critical component of the County's cultural and rural character and its economy. It provides a way for owners of farms ranging from one acre to hundreds of acres to protect their active farmland from development through a program of voluntary conservation easements, thus helping farm owners keep their land in active production of food, fiber and other products, thereby enhancing the availability of local farm produce to all residents. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact is applicable to this item: • RESULTANT IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND AIR QUALITY Assess and where possible mitigate adverse impacts created to the natural resources of the site and adjoining area. Minimize production of greenhouse gases. The Voluntary Farmland Protection Program is a land conservation program that allows farm owners to keep their land in active production in agriculture, horticulture and/or forestry. Farms enrolled in this program are protected from various forms of development, thereby preserving the County's soil and water resources, reducing storm water runoff, enhancing wildlife habitat and preserving the scenic and historic vistas that have defined the County's rural character. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed language adjustments to the County's Voluntary Farmland Protection Program ordinance (Chapter 48, Orange County Code of Ordinances) and approve the boundary adjustment for the New Hope Voluntary Agricultural District.