HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPB Meeting Summary 11192025 Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board
Approved Meeting Summary: November 19', 2025
***Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center ***
10:30 am
Members Present: Compton, Fabian, Hooten, Hughes, Miller, Neff, Ranells, Rose, Sykes, Thompson,
Totten, Wagger, Weitzel
Members Absent: Taylor, Woods
Guests: Karen Stegman
Staff: Jessica Perrin, Soil and Water Conservation Manager; Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources
Coordinator; Mike Ortosky, Community and Rural Development Agent
1. Call to order: Chair Hughes called the meeting to order at 10:51 am
2. Chair Comments/Introductions: New members Vera Fabian and Salem Neff were introduced,
along with guest Karen Stegman
3. Considerations of Additions to Agenda: None
4. Meeting Summary/Minutes: Weitzel moved to approve the meeting summary for September
17t", 2025, seconded by Compton; motion passed.
S. Items for Decision:
a) Approval of Meeting Calendar for 2026: Staff presented the proposed draft calendar for
APB meetings for 2026. Hooten moved approve, seconded by Weitzel; motion carried.
6. Discussion Items:
a) Member input and review of draft Annual Report and Work Plan for 2025: Staff walked
through the first draft of this document, which summarizes the APB's activities for 2025.
Members discussed various aspects and offered editorial suggestions. Is this the place to
talk about the big issues for farmland preservation, about what agriculture means to the
county now and in the past? Other comments included the idea of adding a note about the
growing interest in promoting LAPI programs (Land Access Policies and Incentives) and
concerns about the lack of clear rules about the use of drones in rural areas. Do we want to
add a goal for next year to host a tour for the BOCC that might help showcase the issues of
farmland loss and conversion? Staff will integrate the various comments and suggestions
into a final draft to submit to the BOCC by Jan. 161n
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b) Farmland Preservation Subcommittee: update on plan editing process: staff and
subcommittee members provided a brief overview of the work they accomplished during
their marathon editing session with Jane Saiers on Nov. 121". The group reviewed and
argued about all the past edits and adjustments that had been requested by legal staff,
planning and others. With some creative wordsmithing, the group felt that they had been
able to tweak these areas enough to be very comfortable that the document now says what
we need it to say at this point. Staff will incorporate all the new edits and corrections to
generate a final draft document and share back by the January meeting. After some
discussion, there members agreed that it was time to present this back to the BOCC for
them to review and "accept" the plan (this is the current term, rather than "adopt").
Moving forward, staff and the subcommittee will work to generate a draft one-page cover
or transmittal letter that will accompany the plan when submitted to the BOCC. This will
present just a very few key points that we want to get across. This team will also prepare a
new "preamble" or introduction to be located at the very front of the plan, again with the
goal of presenting in one short statement all the key issues. This led to discussion about
future educational programs and initiatives, and the need to develop good visual
presentations to give to the general public, to show them what's actually happening out
there in the farm community, to educate folks about the importance of agriculture. We
need to figure out effective ways to tell our stories, to put some focus on farm owners, to
let them talk about how they love what they're doing and how much they can endure to
keep farming their land. This will need to be tailored to different audiences. We'll need to
find some effective farm owners to help by giving some meaningful 3-minute support
speeches when we present it to the BOCC.
7. Informational Items/Updates:
a. Grant application for Cost of Community Services Study: Staff will be working on
submitting a grant application to the NC ADFP Trust Fund for a grant of$14,000 to pay for a
new study to update our 2006 study. The gift of$2,000 from the OC Farm Bureau can be a
match. Staff will reach out to Univ. of Mt. Olive and NCSU. The deadline is Dec. 22.
b. Extension and Ag Economic Development activities: No report in the interest of time.
8. Time for Information Sharing: Compton suggested that members take a look at the new county
noise ordinance, as it might prove problematic due to its use of decibel levels as the way to
determine violations, which can create lots of variables. Ranells will share some information
about LAPI (Land Access Policies and Incentives) programs being used in some states, like
MD.
9. Adjournment: Compton moved to adjourn, seconded by Sykes; meeting adjourned at 11:41
am.
Meeting summary by Peter Sandbeck