Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> ten years, except for the creation of not more than three lots that meet applicable County zoning and <br /> subdivision regulations. <br /> The Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board reviewed the findings of the staff <br /> assessments for the attached applications for the Orange County Voluntary Agricultural District <br /> program at its regular meeting in January 2024. All farm applications were reviewed and verified <br /> to have met or exceeded the minimum criteria for certification into the program. <br /> The Agricultural Preservation Board voted to recommend approval of the certification for these <br /> two (2) farms, and their inclusion in the Voluntary and/or the Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural <br /> District programs. The certification documentation is on file in the DEAPR/Soil and Water <br /> Conservation District office. The farms are described briefly below: <br /> Brief Farm Descriptions: <br /> 1) Owners Andy and Debra Gates submitted an application to enroll two (2) additional parcels of <br /> land totaling 47.2 acres as qualifying farmland for a Voluntary Agricultural District in the <br /> Caldwell Agricultural District Region. The farm operation includes the production of corn, <br /> wheat, and soybeans along with hay and managed forest land. <br /> 2) Owners Daniel Lee Miller and Emily Sloss submitted an application to enroll two (2) parcels of <br /> land totaling 20.26 acres as qualifying farmland for a Voluntary Agricultural District in the High <br /> Rock/Efland Agricultural District Region. The farm operation includes pasture for sheep and <br /> honey production. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. Voluntary <br /> Agricultural Districts are non-monetary and require a non-binding 10-year conservation <br /> agreement. Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts are non-monetary and require a binding <br /> 10-year conservation agreement. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to <br /> this item: <br /> • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY <br /> The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary <br /> for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their <br /> dependents. <br /> The Orange County Voluntary Agricultural District Program ordinance conserves, protects and <br /> encourages the preservation and improvement of agricultural land within the County boundaries <br /> as a critical component of the County's cultural and rural character and its economy by virtue of <br /> the production of food, fiber and other products. The purpose of this Ordinance is to reduce the <br /> loss of productive and existing farmland by promoting agricultural values and the general welfare <br /> of the County, recognize the existence of important farmlands by seeking to minimize risks of <br /> nuisance suits that arise from the onset of other land uses, encourage participation in voluntary <br /> programs to preserve and protect farmland from non-farm development and increase identity and <br /> awareness of the agricultural community, and its role in the economic and cultural quality of life <br /> for all County residents (from the Orange County Farmland Preservation/VAD program <br /> ordinance). <br />