HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0467The County may take such action as it deems appropriate through the Farmland
Preservation Board or other body or individual to encourage the formation of
voluntary agricultural districts and to further their purposes and objectives,
including a public information program to reasonably inform landowners of the
farmland preservation program.
ARTICLE VI Certification for Qualifying Farmland
Section 601. Requirements
To secure County certification as qualifying farmland, a parcel must:
(601.1) Be participating in the farm present -use -value taxation program established by
G.S. 105-277.2 through 105-277.7 or be otherwise qualified by the county to
meet all the requirements of this program set forth in G.S. 105-277.3; or
Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States
Department of Agriculture as being land on which at least two-thirds (213) of the
land is composed of soils that:
1) are best suited for providing food, seed, fiber forage, timber, and oil
seed crops, and
2) are favorable for all major crops common to the county where the land
is located, and
3) has been actively used in agricultural, horticultural, or forestry
operations as defined in G. S. 105-277.2 during each of the five
previous years, measured from the date in which the determination
must be made as to whether the land in question qualifies.
(601.2) Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the parcel, in accordance with the
Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion -control practices that
are addressed to said highly erodible land.
(601.3) Be the subject of a preservation agreement, as defined in G.S. 121-35, between
the County and the owner of such land that prohibits non-farm use or
development of such land for a period of at least ten (10) years, except for the
creation of not more than three (3) lots that meet applicable County zoning and
subdivision regulations.
Section 602. Application
A landowner may apply to the Board for such certification at the same time he
applies for the approval as an agricultural district.
ARTICLE VII. Revocation of Preservation Agreement
By written notice to the Board, a landowner of qualifying farmland may revoke
the preservation agreement formulated pursuant to Article V of this ordinance, or
the Board may revoke same preservation agreement based on non-compliance by
the landowner. Such revocation shall result in loss of eligibility to participate in a
voluntary agricultural district.
ARTICLE VIII. Public Hearings
Section 801. Purpose
Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 106-740, which provides that no state or local public agency
or governmental unit may formally initiate any action to condemn any interest in