HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0383Mr. Smith said the districts would be "stand alone" and not a pan of an overlay. Smith said
he envisioned that the northern part of the county would have more open space districts than any
other area.
In answer to a question about the process for a property owner to be eliminated from this type
of district, Smith said it might not take 100% approval. He said; however, if the property owner
happened to be located directly in the center of the district, it might be a little more difficult to be
removed.
MOTION by Commissioner Bowles to approve the Open Space Zoning District Initiative.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0.
FARMLAND PRFSERVATION
Smith said this initiative would require the adoption of a Farmland Preservation Ordinance
(Farmland Enabling Act -Article 61) and the appointment of an advisory board. Mr. Smith said new
districts would need to be determined by the advisory board and all appeals would be heard by the
Iredell County Board ofCommissioners. Smith said a local group of farmers had recommended that
the advisory board be composed of seven (7) members with five (5) being actively engaged in
farming activities. He said the farmland preservation ordinance would give participating farmers
a degree of protection from nuisance lawsuits and condemnations. Mr. Smith said the property
owners would be required to sign an agreement indicating the land would not be developed for non-
farm purposes for at least ten (10) years.
Smith was asked if the areas would be advertised, and he said some districts placed signs
along the highways. He also said some county -web sites had the districts listed.
Attorney Pope said the ordinance would offer some protection for the farmers, but it would
not be a totally protective device.
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to approve the Farmland Preservation initiative and
to instruct the planning staff to draft an ordinance for the review/approval of the planning board.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0.
IMPACT ON SCHOOLS BY LARGE SUBDIVISIONS
Smith said a "quasi" adequate public facilities ordinance had previously been discussed to
address large subdivisions and the impact these have on the local school systems. Mr. Smith said
that atter talking with the county attorney and area school officials, it was his recommendation to
not pursue this initiative. He said there would be difficulty in drafting an ordinance that would not
be seen as discriminatory. Smith said that for every major or large subdivision created, there were
probably five separate or smaller subdivisions developed. He said that if the board desired to
address school overpopulation, it should be done in an adequate public facilities ordinance
specifically addressing schools or through the establishment of an across-the-board impact fee.
MOTION by Commissioner Bowles to eliminate the Impact on Schools by Large
Subdivisions Initiative from consideration at this time.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0.
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SMALL AREA/CORRIDOR PLANNING
Smith said there were eight priority areas that had been categorized for small area or corridor
plan review. The areas were:
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