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53 <br /> DRAFT/March 28,2025 <br /> Appendix 3. Recommendations for Framework for Revisions and Additions to <br /> Protection the Unified Development Ordinance to Strengthen Farmland <br /> Protection <br /> Sections of the Unified Development Ordinance that present opportunity for <br /> amendment to strengthen farmland protection include (but are not limited to) <br /> 7. 12 Flexible Developments, 1.6 Planning Board, 2.4 Zoning Compliance Review, <br /> 2.5 Site Plan Review, 2. 13 Exempt Subdivisions, 2. 14/2. 15 Minor/Major <br /> Subdivisions, 4 Overlay Districts, 5 Uses, 5. 13 Standards for Agricultural Uses, 6 <br /> Development Standards, 6.6 Additional Standards for Overly Districts, 7. 13 <br /> Specifications for Plat Drawings, and a Use Authorization Certificate for <br /> conserved farmland. <br /> Definition of the Resource: The resource targeted for conservation is Prime <br /> Farmland* rather than the farm itself as a cultural element defined by ownership, <br /> property boundary, and land use. Prime Farmland in Orange County is mapped <br /> in the 1977 Orange County Soil Survey. Eleven (1 1) map units are identified as <br /> prime farmland: HrB, CfB, CrB, EnB, HeB, VaB, ApB, GeB, HwB, Aa, HhA. For these <br /> soil map units, the first one or two letters indicate the soil series (soil type), and <br /> the last letter indicates the slope range. These Prime Farmland units represent <br /> 123,730 acres of the 256,640 acres in Orange County (48.2%) per the 1977 <br /> Orange County Soil Survey. <br /> Identification: Field identification of Prime Farmland represented on a map layer <br /> is required as part of any site development application package (plat <br /> drawings). <br /> Statement of Resource Avoidance and Minimization: The applicant must address <br /> how the plan avoids and minimizes impact to Prime Farmland. Impact is defined <br /> as any non-agricultural disturbance of the natural soil profile (i.e., the naturally <br /> occurring soil layers). Such activities include grading (cut or fill). <br /> Mitigation may be considered as an additional measure to reduce loss of Prime <br /> Farmland. That is, once the resource has been identified and the applicant has <br /> demonstrated satisfactory avoidance and minimization of impacts to prime <br /> farmland, mitigation of those impacts may include protective easements on <br /> remaining Prime Farmland on site, acquisition of protective easements on <br /> comparable off-site farmland resource, in-lieu fee payment to the Orange <br /> County Lands Legacy program or similar land conservancy, fee purchase of off- <br /> site farmland resources. <br /> Best Management Practices: Standards for best management practices may be <br /> developed for agricultural areas that are retained as common space in any <br /> development. <br /> 51 <br />