Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> A minor technical adjustment is also proposed to the boundary line of the New Hope Voluntary <br /> Agricultural District , which is one of the County' s seven existing Voluntary Agricultural Districts . <br /> This is necessary because the original boundary lines , drawn in 1992 , inadvertently excluded <br /> several parcels of eligible farmland located outside of the Hillsborough extra -territorial jurisdiction <br /> ( ETJ ) , near the Eno River , and just north of the junction of 140 and 1 - 85 . The attached maps show <br /> this as follows : 1 ) the existing boundary southwest of Hillsborough ; 2 ) the proposed boundary <br /> adjustment ; and 3 ) a detailed map showing exactly where the line is proposed for relocation . The <br /> Agricultural Preservation Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on January 19 , 2022 , to <br /> recommend the approval of the new map showing the boundary adjustment . <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT . There is no financial impact associated with this item . Voluntary <br /> Agricultural Districts are non - monetary and non - binding conservation agreements . Enhanced <br /> Voluntary Agricultural Districts are non - monetary and are binding 10 -year conservation <br /> agreements . <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT : The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to <br /> this item : <br /> • GOAL : ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND - USE AND <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES <br /> The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races , cultures , incomes <br /> and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental <br /> laws , regulations , policies , and decisions . Fair treatment means that no group of people <br /> should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences <br /> resulting from industrial , governmental and commercial operations or policies . <br /> The Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program conserves , protects and encourages the <br /> preservation and improvement of agricultural land within the County boundaries as a critical <br /> component of the County' s cultural and rural character and its economy . It provides a way for <br /> owners of farms ranging from one acre to hundreds of acres to protect their active farmland from <br /> development through a program of voluntary conservation easements , thus helping farm owners <br /> keep their land in active production of food , fiber and other products , thereby enhancing the <br /> availability of local farm produce to all residents . <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT : The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal <br /> impact is applicable to this item : <br /> • RESULTANT IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND AIR QUALITY <br /> Assess and where possible mitigate adverse impacts created to the natural resources of <br /> the site and adjoining area . Minimize production of greenhouse gases . <br /> The Voluntary Farmland Protection Program is a land conservation program that allows farm <br /> owners to keep their land in active production in agriculture , horticulture and /or forestry . Farms <br /> enrolled in this program are protected from various forms of development , thereby preserving the <br /> County ' s soil and water resources , reducing storm water runoff, enhancing wildlife habitat and <br /> preserving the scenic and historic vistas that have defined the County' s rural character . <br /> RECOMMENDATION (S ) : The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed <br /> language adjustments to the County ' s Voluntary Farmland Protection Program ordinance <br /> ( Chapter 48 , Orange County Code of Ordinances ) and approve the boundary adjustment for the <br /> New Hope Voluntary Agricultural District . <br />