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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-21-2002 - 5c; VAD - Bacon t ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 21, 2002 Action Agenda Item No. S-ate SUBJECT: Resolution Designating Voluntary Agricultural District—Bacon Family DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) Resolution and Map David Stancil, ERC Director, 245-2590 2) Brochure 3) Application TELEPHONE NUMBERS: 4)Staff Memo/Soils information Hillsborough 7324181 5)Certification from NRCS Chapel Hill 9684501 6)CertUCation from Tan Supervisor Durham 688-7331 7)APB Minutes April 17,2002 Mebane 3364227.2031 PURPOSE: To consider a resolution certifying farmlands identified by the Bacon family as qualifying farmland and designating a Voluntary Agricultural District. BACKGROUND: On behalf of himself and other family members, Don Johnson has applied to have lands owned by the Bacon family designated a Voluntary Agricultural DisMd. Orange County adopted a Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordnance (VFPPO) in 1992, which provides for the creation of Voluntary Agricultural Districts. A brochure with Information about Voluntary Agricultural Districts is attached. The County's adopted Voluntary Farmland! Preservation Program Ordinance provides that the Agricultural Preservation Board review and approve applications for qualifying farmland and make recommendations to the board! of Commissioners concoming the establishment and modification of agricultural districts. Section V of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance contains the requirements for Inclusion in a voluntary agricultural district. To be mml as qualifying farmland, a faun must: 1. Se padicipting in the farm present use-value tal program eetablishad by the N.C. General Statutes Sectors 105-277.2 through 10S2T7.7,or Is otherwise determined by the County b meet all the qualifwfons of this program set fifoh in the N.C.General StaWtes, Sectors 105- 277.3. 2. Be certfied by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of me United Slates DepmMent of Agnmouns as berxi a famh on which at least two4hlyds of the land Is cewosed of soils tat a. Are best suited for grovidng food,seed,fiber,forage,timber,and oil seed craps, 2 .. b. Have good soil qualifies, c. Are favorable for all major cops common to Orange County: d. Have a favorable 9roving seas^^ e. Roper"the available moisture needed ca produce high yields for an average of eight(5)out of ton(10)years: OR be are on which at leasl�re es defined M In Id Ne N.C.eGeneral SNlulesln5ecfionfilgS horticultural or forestry' operz ou, years, measured from the data on 277.2 (1.2, and 3), during each of the five (5) preri which Me determinat,on must M made as Wwhethar Me lend In question qualifies. 3 Be managed if highly ar dible land exists on Me calm. In accordance with Me Natural Resources Consarvagon Service da,mad erealan-oantrol pra dices es spsofietl in Me 1985 Food Sewwritl'A0. The Oren9e Soil and Water Conservation Dismcl OfOce 9, N�Tceam" with Supervisor above r�ded pro memoranda(attechetl)which Indicate Nat the Baco The property specified in Na application k rid requirements(please ses Attach" acros, sallstyin9 the acreage requlremens that the t In come^>� of Nree tracts totaling fid tmct(s)consist of at least SO contiguous acres by Me To be designated as a Voluntary Agnculluml OISNc0.the Olsetn owner signs a conservation Board of Commissioners. Followin9 Nis sppmval,the prop M beNleen orange County end agreement, es provitled in the NoM Carolina General SlaWtes, period of al least ten Ne owner that pmhibds non tan use or development of such lantl for a P owner may leave liche (1D)years.bat ppI for My coat rag,alto s(ee Attachment)# The properly applicable Orange hat meet County zoning the program by providing written notice. to approve At its April 17, 2002 meeting.Ne Agricultural Preservation Board voted unanimously 512Q17F(66 acres stquaslifyirc farm an nBterms Mlhe actual Dletriets'We(Agneurcurid Preservation Board recommends We designation of two tracts lothad approximately 160 acres ore a voluntary agricultural district extluding Me 14ecre tract(TMBL#5.12. 15A) since it is not®rdiguous wiN Me larger acreage. A draft resolution is attached that vrould cedtiy the designate Ne eawn farm as a Voluntary Agricultural District. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There I$no fiscal Impact Is associated with this item. ' RECOMMENDATION(S)- The Manager recommentls that the Board adapt the attached resolution certifying the Bacon property as qualifying farmland and designating 6 a voluntary egmMulwral district as noted above. 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION A Resolution Certifying Deinat Designating a Voluntary Agricultural District Farmland and WHEREAS, Orange County adopted a Voluntary Famdantl Preservation Program Ordinance in 1992 with provisions for the creation of Voluntary Agricultural Districts; end WHEREAS, since 1992 seven arms rotating 1,517 acres have enrolled in the Voluntary AgriculMml District prog a in promoting WHEREAS, the Voluntary Agmecranal Districts program nee been a valuable tool farmland preservation among willing participants; and WHEREAS, Don Johnson,on behalf of himself and other entlbmily members, has applied to enro ll lands owned by himself and his family in the prop WHEREAS, the review by staffs from ERGO, Soil and Water and the Tax Assessor validate the eligibility of 160 acres of the Bacon family lands in the application; and WHEREAS. on April 17, the A9dcuMurel Preservation Boartl approved cenficalnlantl o aforementioned 160 acres (as shown on the accompanying map) as qu )al�these lands: unanimously recommended the designation of Voluntary Ago NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED: That the Orange County Board of Commissioners, In keeping with its Interest in th preservation of natural and cultural resources hereby tlesigAnriicultural Dlsstdcl�s of the Race family fan (as shown on the attached map)as a Voluntary g BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board thanks Mr. Jendsfor be long tifns commitment interest In Me preservation of farmland in Orange County being good stewards of the land. This,the 210 day of May,2002. Barty Jacobs, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners ATTEST eevedy Blythe, Clerk m the Board • 1, �a v Tract 2rf N Tract 1 �a Tract 3 U ^i c 2 M L N Z 0 Bacon Family Limited Property Tract 1 - TMBL 5.12..15A/10 Acres I Orange County Tract 2 - TMBL 5.12..17/ 90.1 Acres + ERCD Tract 3 - TMBL 5.12..11/ 69.1 Acres 400 0 400 800 Feet May 7, 2002 ® B. Young How the Voluntary Agricultural District FOR MORE INFORMATION Program Began PLEASE CONTACT: The State of North Carolina passed the Farmland Preservation Enabling Act in 1985, authorizing counties to establish farmland preservation programs, including agricultural Voluntary districts. In 1992, Orange County adopted a Brent Bogue Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Orange County Soil and Water Ordinance, creating the Agricultural Conservation District A 9rICU/tUral Preservation Board(APB) and procedures for 306 Revere Road establishing Voluntary Agricultural Districts. Hillsborough,NC 27278 Districts What is the Agricultural Preservation (919) 245- 2750 Board? e-mail: bbogue @nc.nres.usda.gov The Agricultural Preservation Board is composed of a number of County residents, including a slot for farmers in the Voluntary Agricultural Districts program. APB members Fletcher Barber are appointed by the Board of County Cooperative Extension Service Commissioners. The APB reviews and 306E Revere Road approves applications to the Voluntary Agricultural Districts program, and also Hillsborough, NC 27278 make recommendations to the Board of (919) 245- 2051 County Commissioners on other issues related e-mail: Fletcher_Barber @ncsu.edu farmland preservation and viability. rL-' �d The Agricultural Preservation Board supports David Stancil voluntary measures and incentives that will � �,� �•, "��;,���$l: ��,,� ;°�"�,� Orange County Environment and lead to the continued and future viability of . farming in Orange County, and to the Resource Conservation Department preservation of farmland as a factor in Orange 306A Revere Road County's qualihj of life. The APB feels that Hillsborough,NC 27278 farmland is a resource best preserved by (919) 245-2590 Strayhoni Farm protecting the property rights and property e-mail: dstancil @co.orange.nc.us values of the farmland owner. The goals of rural preservation, which encompass the conservation of prime farmland, the scenic County of Orange vistas of the agricultural landscape, the family farm tradition, and the economic viability of agriculture in Orange County, are best served by keeping farming a profitable enterprise. North Carolina u, no t fund n a Pabroble ,arm w Maine marred as dm pressures of an a¢awlmml amia 9 within,etc-lmlfmile. At Insl led an tp of the and las ben very em m a dallmnl hmMJdie l st tumOreel Crime dm on, PYel ',if aml Waawrners wvnnJSenuAamnmexrs forestry opwtiom dmwg etch of We 6s[ Me of fmmlml: elm wars aM air. PlarR eod evimat m eve few. L fresh ewta, ve8dabsu, but aw binary named as within A8^erorM Ouoiorr art M Be substantial,ands,irn may erodible RCS,isrsw 3. a, and amok tmnl vnpe Nina p re9mmdbermlby lowmeso[sewusym Ithe be gw 1m m acwNace wiW NLLCSdeGUa] am eb° au]bropeMuffbynat waver to nor ma be Pmemm M1t demovstrnet Yaw ateg and for a wv tend SwWmlpracdaa as epzieediuthe 1985 '_ n � � vd clity Of ,rem bred w a am x charges awls tlteh tend Security Art et Courts m Wa enceplieoal quality oI life forestry s adreq R tarvcfi xannw. couvty. Publ(a Dne(rrg RepuireJ !^r PrvpnxM as Agnf qualifying;Dumb mat baronial! n'of b ,st y Condem na tin, No Shic m Cama' _ oa Sing ie Ar r Lvea r fie dvNVY nuY dory Agr!¢uWrnl IRN&h Promah We PNh innse monde mit" l ivy hods cwnm mgle am, or two or more mWigoa¢ Mdwnxa On CwuryAprirnhxm ru Pmcrner i agawsr a l (ofmller brae which taus SO essential; , w aware, l a8e wiWm an AgricilNml DiMrq wnl a fmmil public - Mamg,,mamed. Siathr bt my also arrhal retry Agricultural and rsi;c,as trustees fM voLmlerya®rcultwaldwktmaYalso Le inclMed. drrual tradieonm Onvge, as Gtmers WerreeMx ere aoWpWrypmt¢ti000f5mbvd. pcpoaioinnt Cs jwmnrrroou Ie n DseaMcgt a R m efnor o Reeneteew Apparentness[ Do are f° Pri.mry Consternation A IM, arms new Con,mare mWcroue OlWuu e u on caieus a liisYten,di n as b a b Voluntary Year Poxr Fare, Con Bea PPeam &eumxg o Aoa wm,[D,Iut ' mry.lgrirndarufDiwie FMW.&Igbb4y a Iheamefor umia, pnuWtmal VoluntarN DuMtt a beem Ngwvu a ;Public. The, It YML will Place signs asee 11111) arrom aeY a eligible for farmland annitmew VeMwary'Nm`HiuJingAgrarern Public was an yom use (D lie Cher luntary fvm eu Ormge Cwnry Volmuary Cinam¢y'so Lwdsa Legary, psgJam, u Boeing us A V at an a Agiodtmal co ier mron a will be uWml Disnin. Thee silm will tell lessserxby In aablmrm mar-e not the oaaseenert agreement Yoµ Me Gtm oaw terminal b the subtotal,Most, loCountyrg of aced i least . r, not but a or itM We lerlof bad I i to a me ua 1 Coan,ry. rn Ift purchased it drat fum my-farm ose m devell M of Omt Iwf br a rmtion of hrc av]rcuLLm'al waY of I'Je i Onuee neene 0e WeNers Gtmiv CNVDive. perm ofatlnn IOlmare. Nowevq up b Wtee b¢ Ly How Yaur Farm Can Became a Yalw _rmy ebtend devebped no a Parcel 11 Iml wiMin a vopnny Ewrrryn Agriecoat a Diarrhea The Process is gwte swrple. anrary Annwnunlomrnrt Tobxomew A®iwlwml Dinnu{al,rmmuu Gm Sponllynu JeaNVte aeRynurlen6..... r w putitial6Y We ,1,,d $T, 1, Water afiitl ss Quli(ying Fvmland. To 6c cenJed, a farm A VolunGry 'Agiwltwnl Diaur mcmbec MrV ma 1. Ce PwlieiWtmg m @c fab Present Use Value M,UM, emil ¢b JM at auseseter il raw ft, first, pbgynm a. E. Bc cntifW by We Natwil Rwlmrcs wseJ Prang iw f,w Nuisun Saft Pmrms -COmerMionSwiu.sabovga G®wwhic6 rg Im wiWi on,Urmik nftb'District ran do 0 a[kast Mm Thiia inf the lead is compml Rib the kwwledga der a Wm fits obicWNnt f,,t Oat at best served for agmvlt MI exist.ban AgnVArrun Bonita ve idmJM i papme aeumyIm! Recite Sytlab art on Cwnry'ISa - ..Apptic®¢ far new d,wbilm ms wW also be s Orange Counly Agricultural Districts Advisory Board APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFYING FARMLAND AND DESIGNATION AS AN ORANGE COUNTY VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT t INSTRUCTIONS: Before completing Ne application,Pleux mime pPene4ions of tM orange main voluntary Fiordland Priervauna Pro Ordinance.Net Rn talk Rea forma:aemetely an,wmylNely os possible. Wean aqn an,date tM form,and ,urn it an Ne Omm,,DrentY�bnrentand NC�m CatervaMn oepanme t./JOdF Revere Road, APPLICANT: OpNFIO N. zatlascas J Nwna m ry G. Roc P) 7/e t0 Y 4i Ted ar5h: J /1 //. state—AA: 'p Code: 17278 Day' �� yny 7ya-7'12 DD Tl�.3 is Evenin 3 . 3 RL 6 PLOm Namr Past Y83 '4eI R2 m� el Y Email: TR„ _Tf: nFMC Pt^1'L'a'n PROPERTY INFORMATION: mn/Jddre,t: 38o d-a:Z3 5i aYS Rd N ii sbPra�yC We y 'nchlp-� Tar MOP. Block Ltc��I a �ga34 DV/b S69u°S Parcel taend6enitn Number(PMI: _u cases — '0 P i Nambcrof Acres°° Oced BOO4: n1�_Page. Ibrs this land have a plan on nit sack ibe Nawal Rceoorxs Conservation 5crvicem NCFOrest ls,mce? No I sal,',planes complete buck of form _ Yes: _ Ia this lmtl lutNfte Pte¢m UW taxation with ibe creep County Tax OMce? Y¢ lf..ii plw,e asse tc back Of to= OWNERM CERTIFICATION: I[A'e1,me sillicamla].hereby certify Nor,to me best If my[wr]kmader the foregoing application is wmplese and necumte. Signotute: /lyzes Dale: L- sienatarn: � 2v Ealc�1— Pleasedirect NyuiRmto: c/e Wynn Cnanry£nwmsw,11 dR.r e Cannoan Dpvmrvt ir a d nnkm.pk NC zma SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOTE: Complete this infornso@on ONLY: Ifyoua NNOTpartxiptiMixthg rm PreeentFUe WZNionpwgmm: OR U So,do NOT have o Prha carflha IM Ne Nalaml ih"mor ee�COnxrwlitin 5ervioow Me NC 1. How love have you owned your fum4 ems 1. Now long M1are you lived on your farm? L IaLyeffs 3. Iim yam farm corroded$1,000 in pass income is crash of me mar three years? u No d. Now many acres on youT farm are order cultivation'! �d _ucrts 5. What are the major crops vast You plant each yeses' LFn.a Z�. i nV has 6. How mmy acres on your farm ate accord fci Pamure? �S aces a is ,�" ,t� �r�7�ar+o4d�5pUf2e,�ddnNSan "s^ f r MEMORANDUM To: Brent Bogue, District Conservationist John SmIN-�T.a�x Supervisor From: 1-i Moon,rand Use/Preservation Planner Date: February 14, 2082 Subject: Bacon Family Limited Partnership Application Nor Certification as Qualifying Famnland Please find attached the application of Donald N. Johnson and Mary G. Bacon of the Bacon Family❑mited Partnership for Certfication as Qualifying Farmland. Mr. Johnson submitted the form as part of the application process for the County's Voluntary AgdalWral District Program. The property is listed for present-use taxation program but does not have a plan on file with the Natural Resources Conservation Serves or North Carolina Forest Service. To secure such certification, a tract must: 1. Be Participating In the present use-value taxation program established by the NC General Statutes, Sections 105-277.2 through 105-277,7, or is otherwise determined by fire County to meet all the qualifications of this program set forth In the NC General Statutes, Section 105-27].3. [FCSponse to bw provldM by Tar Supervisor] 2.. Be Fail by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (NRCS) as being a farm on which at least two-thirds of the land is composed of solls that a. Are best suited for providing food, seed,fiber, forage, timber, and oil seed crops; b. Have good soll quallUes; C. Are favorable for all major crops common to Orange County; d. Have a favorabe growing season; and e. Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of eight(8)out of ten (10)years; OR be one on which at least two-thirds of the land has been actively used for agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations as defined in the NC General Statutes, 9: Juhmun APPlicadonjm Cepookadim in Qual(Jydg1ramlanf Paget Section 105-277.2(1,2, and 3),during each of the five (5) previous years, measured from the data on which the determination must be made as to whether the land in questions qualifies. [Response to be provided by DistnctCpnservelianis() 3. Be managed, if highly erodible land edsfs on the farm, In accordance with the NRCS-defined erosion control practices as speclfred In the 1985 Food Security Act. [Response W be pvvwM by District LwrservatMnlst) In accordance with Section V of the Orange County Voluntary Farmland Pre dirwhon Ordinance, you have 30 days within which to evaluate the application for compliance with the above requirements and realm your finding W the Environment and Resource Conservation Department. In your response, please be as specific as you can be regarding how the property complies. Provided the property is cemieed as qualifying farmland, and the Advisory Board recommends designation as a voluntary agricultural distdct, the Board of Commissioners could consider the request in late April 2002. Please note that the proposed agdcultural dlstrld Is comprised of 3 tr cts, totaling 170.64 acres. Thus, the acreage requirement is Sadared, since the farm consists of one tra4 or two or more contiguous tracts containing at least 80 acres. I have included a vicinity,map showing the boundaries of the property and a tabulation of acreage by sel type. You may wish to refer to these in completing your review. Thank you for your assistance In this matter. If 3 on provide additional Information, please contact me at extension 2583. In attachments cc: David Stancll, PinNronmenf and Resourre ConsenaVoin Director • D D GeB �a HrB ApB 0) P • N Bacon Family Limited Property S Soils Analysis TMBL 5.12..11 5.12..15A Orange County Scale 5.12..17 ERCD 1 inch = 800 feet Total Acreage 170.64 February 2002 B. Young BACON PROPERTY SOIL ANALYSIS ID9� 6.5 18.8 Ch Chewaclaaveam 12 1.2 II Ipam 15L5 percent slopes 1D p WxF Wilkes ! BtO 15 ercent slo es —0.1 TOD Tatum atlloam, 0.1 HIC Eorn loo . 2l06percent slp as 210 D1 85 _ M0 HiC Herntlon sill loam.6 tD tD rcenl slp es 2) 4 32.5 S ling_sancv 1pa 2to6 nt slOPa' 13 16.0 _18.1 Hm Haman silt loam, 2 to 8 cent slopes 84 81 16.5 Ge8 Gaorpevllle 'It loam 2_W 8 pa ant slopes 5 11 2 13.1 Iln sand to to 10 peme�rt slopes 0.4 125 A C A gy 0 rygg Helena sandy loam. 2 b 6 Broom 510 as v Wete 69.1 10 80.1 ;7160.2 Totals ` SOIL & WATER USDA 12 orange sad&Water Natural Resou¢es PO Box at et fnnwmatlon District Conservation Sar im 308 Revere Road Phone:91&]3241181,FiI.2750 Phone:919& 1019,Ext. 3 NIIkWIwgd, NC 2M73 This report serves W document how the proposed farm qualifies for acceptance into Ibe Voluntary Agricultaal Districts in Orange County. 1. Two-thhds of the soils on the farm must: M. Be suited frnr prord'mg food, seed,fiber,forage,limtier,and ml seed crops. YES R % 9� NO % Cotmncnts: It. Have good soil qualities. YES X NO Breakdown of sod classes in perssedt. Class) Classes S B,IB are primarily used for wpland Clasin 124.1 CIMBM 479 Classes M-W are personally best suhM for pasture ClassN orwoonlond. Class V Class Vl ChaseVlls 1.2 Class VU gennafiy amended for agricultaal use. Comments: ' c. Be favorable for all major crops wmmon to Orange County. Major crops are core,tobacco,small grain,pasture,and loblolly pines. 99 %favorable 1 %unfavorable 13 d F3ave revorable gowirig season. (YES) nu growing season for Onstage County is approximately 200 days. It begins in approximately the second week of April and runes unfit about the bast week in October. This response will be consistent for all bums in Choose County. e. Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of a to 10 years. (YES) Orunge County Reaves approximately 4245 inches ofmidall annually. Thin Reponm wiF be consistent ties all farms in Orange County. OR At hand two-thirds of the band has been aoevdy used!in sgiodbor;horticulture or fineshy olpmiona as dednad in the NC Geverel Statutes, Section 105-211.2(t,2,and 3)during each of the the previous years,measured from the data on which the determination mum be noun as to whether the band in question.qualifies. Acresincropband Acres in ho mewar Acrre in hor Other round use or 0[her related nee Total TRACT acres Greater than two-thirds in deagnmell uses. Yea % No % Comments: 1. Farm must be nuvaSed,if highly anodible land aoats on the barn,in accordance whit the USDA Nmoral lieaourcea Conservation Service(MRCS)defined uosion-govtrol predmes as specified in the 1995 Food Security Ad as amended Plan on file in NRCS Office YES—2L— NO YNO,Fred will be requhed before acnepbuca into the Voluntary Agricultural Usoicte Pro e Comments: y 14 ORANGE COUNTY TAX OFFICE m+slmnl.cre wssooracnauaMN ET 669pR PO 8181 T,�ywLLro"N& HH.LSBOROUCH,NORTH CAROLINA 2T278 • T HOn P1r1AlilLLe 2M.rA¢6W091 MEMORANDUM M: Tine Moon FROM', Teresa Moore-r'a DATE: March 14,2002 SMMCT; Bacon Family Limil�Panna ip 01v reccrc indicnte the Hawn Family UnitM Parmelship have three pa s of land that actively participate in the Prevem-use value program a a a iwlWral dassification. nWhavebeenpartid"a ginthe progamsincel%l. If Iembeoffiu tlmrassisanegpleasecallmeat We on2108_ 15 DRAFT MINUTES AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD April 17, 2002 PRESENT: Whit Morrow, Elizabeth Walters,Tony Meese, Rodney Reccr, Noah Ranells, Many Mandell (late arrival), Environment& Resource Conservation Director David Stanch, Preservation Planner Tina Moon, and Carol Melton, ABSENT: Bob Strayhom Louise Tate ITEM#1: CALL TO ORDER Morrow called the meeting to odor at 7:40 p.m., thanked everyone for coming and asked if anyone had new additions or items for consideration to add to the agenda. ITEM 02: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA ITEM IQ: APPROVAL Or MINUTES February 20, 2002 MOTION: Meese made motion to approve the Feb 20th, 2002 minutes with one noted correction. Seconded by Ranells. VOTE: Unanimous, ITEM": ITEMS FOR DECISION a. Annual Chair and Vice Chair Elections Morrow called for nominations. Stencil read a proxy nomination submitted in writing by Mandell. The nomination slated Tony Meese as Chair because of his Involvement In education, production and the marketing of farm products and, Noah Ranells for Vice Chair because of his Involvement in small-farm production and work with value-added products. After brief discussion of duties, both agreed to the nominations. As there were no other nominations, Morrow closed the nominations. MOTION: Recor motioned to nominate Meese for Chair. Seconded by Panels. VOTE: Unanimous. MOTION: Recor motioned to nominate Ranells for Vice-Chair. Seconded by Walters. i VOTE: Unanimous. b. Voluntary Agricultural District Application-Don Johnson Farm Stencil reviewed the application and supporting materials for the Johnson Voluntary Agriculture) District Application. Staff recommended that the 10-acre tract H MBL p5.12..15A)be excluded from the VAD since it is not contiguous with the larger acreage. It was noted that the other two contiguous parcels totaled 160 acres and met he criteria fora Voluntary Agricultural District. MOTION: Welters motioned approval of the Johnson VAD application and to be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for establishment of a VAD. Seconded by Ranells. VOTE: Unanimous C. Recommendation on Triangle GreenPrint Stencil reviewed the February 25th presentation on the Triangle GreenPrint Report. The APB supports Greenprint's effort to coordinate regional open space planning across the Triangle After discussion the members decided to forward a memo to the BOCC including the following concerns: 1. The Greenprint should be developed using a broad set of agricultural stakeholders to develop pnonties for farmland preservation. We suggest using Agricultural Preservation Boards where they exist(Orange, Durham and Chatham counties all have boards), as well as other organized agricultural support groups to Identify critical farmland areas. From our understanding of the process to date, only a few representatives or a limited number of groups have been involved in the identification of these areas. 2. There is a need to develop common definitions and cricks for the categories of land in the Greenprint, and to Identify lands of regional value with enough specificity to enable voluntary protection and preservation of specific critical lands when opportunities arse. The existing Greenprnt document is somewhat vague in its identification of these areas for farmland and forestland, and the definitions and criteria for farmland and forestland are not clear. 3. We concur with the goal of the Greampdnt to encourage each County to become aware of critical areas and to take steps to protect such areas as they deem appropriate. However, future mechanisms or recommendations from the Greemprint should not work to diminish any individual county's own efforts to be proactive in identifying and protecting these sites - as some counties (like Orange)already have active and successful programs toward this end. 17 MOTION: Kaska moved to forward the recommendation as noted above to the BOCC. Seconded by Walters. VOTE: Unanimous. d. Voluntary Agricultural District Application - Lee Miller Farm (this item moved from Discussion by vote as noted) MOTION: Morrow motioned to add the Lee Miller Farm VAD application b the agenda as a decision item. Seconded by Mandell. VOTE: Unanimous. After a staff review of the application materials the them voted to consider the application for Voluntary Agricultural District status. MOTION: Walters motioned to designate the Lee Miller farm for a VAD and forward to the BOCC. Seconded by Ronnie VOTE: Unanimous. ITEM F5: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION a. VFPPO Update— Draft Stencil noted that staff has worked to explore potential changes to the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program, originally ordered in 1992, as per previous APB discussions in March. In recent years many changes have occurred in VFPPOs and the status of fanning,warranting revisiting the ordinance. Staff has reviewed the ordinances from other jurisdictions, the new model ordinance, and comments from the APB meetings to develop a dmft'straw' set of initial suggestions for changes to the program. These suggestions were outlined in the agenda packet. It was noted that Section IV-membership requirements would be considered after we see what the agricultural priority areas look like and the districts are finalized. The members discussed including a ninth duty to Section D-Duties, as per the Stale Model Ordinance,to develop a countywide farmland preservation plan as defined in NCGS § 198444(e)(1)for presentation to the Board of County Commissioners. The need for a map that shows a farmland plenty areas was noted as a high priority. Other topics dismissed included, possible number of participating VADs, priority areas and possible distiict definitions, haw membership could be aff acted with more VAD participants, setting up the program to encourage new VADs without enlarging the board membership beyond a reasonable number. A reply from the county attorney on the _ application forth and the Agricultural Conservation Agreement was distributed as a handout. Due to the hour, this discussion was deferred to the next meeting.