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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 meetings in January 2025 and March 2025. All farm applications were <br /> reviewed and verified to have met or exceeded the minimum criteria for certification into the <br /> program. <br /> The Agricultural Preservation Board voted to recommend approval of the certification for these <br /> three (3) 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 Lindsay and Philip Butler submitted an application to enroll one (1) parcel of land <br /> totaling 18.71 acres as qualifying farmland for a Voluntary Agricultural District in the <br /> Schley/Eno Agricultural District Region. The farm operation includes pasture for cattle. <br /> 2) Owners Peter Gundlach and Elizabeth Kage submitted an application to enroll four (4) parcels <br /> of land totaling 82.7 acres as qualifying farmland for an Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural <br /> District in the Caldwell Agricultural District Region. The farm operation includes one field in <br /> permanent grass cover and is otherwise primarily managed forest land. <br /> 3) Owner Ashley Cummings submitted an application to enroll one (1) parcel of land totaling 9.3 <br /> acres as qualifying farmland for a Voluntary Agricultural District in the Schley/Eno Agricultural <br /> District Region. The farm operation includes produce, cut flowers, honey production, eggs, <br /> and livestock. <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 /> ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: <br /> • GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION <br /> OBJECTIVE 4. Incentivize and promote sustainable agriculture and local food systems <br /> development through supportive policy, funding, farmland protection and educational <br /> outreach. <br /> OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: <br /> 1) certify the three (3) farm properties noted above totaling 110.71 acres; <br /> 2) designate the Butler and Cummings farms as Voluntary Agricultural District farms within <br /> the Schley/Eno Agricultural District Regions; <br /> 3) designate the Gundlach/Kage farm as an Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District farm <br /> within the Caldwell Agricultural District Region; and <br />