Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> 1 and that is farmland. She said that farmland is being lost rapidly. She said that Orange County <br /> 2 has worked to mitigate the losses. She said North Carolina ranks 2nd in farmland lost to non- <br /> 3 agricultural uses. She said the acceleration of the loss of farmland shows there is a need to do <br /> 4 more. <br /> 5 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how many farms may be in danger. <br /> 6 Dr. Saiers said that there are 700 farms in the county. She said there has been a dramatic <br /> 7 decrease since 2017. She said that trend is state and nation-wide. <br /> 8 Commissioner Greene thanked Dr. Saiers for her work on the Agricultural Preservation <br /> 9 Board and the Food Council. <br /> 10 Vice-Chair McKee said that a recent sale of undeveloped tract of farmland sold for <br /> 11 $280,000 for ten acres, that makes every farm in Orange County a potential for development. <br /> 12 Dr. Saiers said she does not know any farmers that are in it to make a ton of money. She <br /> 13 said that the first task is figuring out how to make farming profitable enough to make a living. She <br /> 14 said that hopefully, this, along with the love of the land will keep them there. <br /> 15 Vice-Chair McKee said he rented and farmed a tract of land for 19 years. He said when <br /> 16 the primary owner passed away, the family sold it. He said he made more money in two years <br /> 17 developing the land than in the 19 years that he farmed it. <br /> 18 Commissioner Fowler asked if the WASMBPA requirements have had an impact on <br /> 19 farmland loss. <br /> 20 Dr. Saiers said that farmland is often converted to large-lot developments. She said that <br /> 21 rural buffers do not prevent that. <br /> 22 Veronica Penn-Beattie presented on behalf of the Commission for the Environment. She <br /> 23 reviewed the work of the Commission over the last year and what they have for 2023. She said <br /> 24 the Right of Way Task Force is back in action. She said they plan to start the planning of the 2024 <br /> 25 state of the environment report. She said they are very involved in the Climate Action Plan. She <br /> 26 said they plan to bring forward a tree canopy policy and focus on water quality issues. She said <br /> 27 they want to make sure that Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools <br /> 28 receive environmental grants, and that they have ideas to help the schools. She said they want <br /> 29 to make sure more people are aware of the Climate Action Grants. She said that they are focusing <br /> 30 on recruitment for diversity and inclusion. <br /> 31 Commissioner Richards said that the schools have an opportunity to submit projects and <br /> 32 if a school does or does not submit, that has nothing to do with the Commissioners. <br /> 33 Veronica Penn-Beattie said she agrees but thinks there is something the commission can <br /> 34 do to make it easier for the schools to submit and the commission has a recommendation on how <br /> 35 to amend the application that might increase the number of applicants. <br /> 36 Commissioner Richards said that would need to go to the schools because if it comes <br /> 37 back to the Board, there is nothing they can do to make the schools submit. <br /> 38 Vice-Chair McKee said it is the responsibility of the schools to develop their program and <br /> 39 their request for a grant. He said it is not the role of another organization to help them. <br /> 40 Veronica Penn-Beattie said that is correct and that one of the school systems has a <br /> 41 sustainability manager and one does not. She said the same one has not been able to submit an <br /> 42 application. <br /> 43 Vice-Chair McKee said that is a responsibility of the school. <br /> 44 Commissioner Hamilton asked what their ideas are for recruitment of diversity. <br /> 45 Veronica Penn-Beattie said that the Commission for the Environment has not done much <br /> 46 to have a public facing commission. She said they are working to collaborate with other agencies <br /> 47 and events to get their name out more. <br /> 48 Commissioner Fowler said she was looking forward to achieving the county's Climate <br /> 49 Action Plan. <br /> 50 Commissioner Richards asked about the Greene Tract. <br />