HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1757(503.6) Public Information
The County may take such action as it deems appropriate through the Farmland
Preservation Board or other body or individual to encourage the formation of
enhanced agricultural districts and to further their purposes and objectives,
including a public information program to reasonably inform landowners of the
farmland preservation programs.
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. 105-177.3;
Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States
Department of Agriculture as being land on which at least two-thirds (2/3) of the
land is composed of soils that:
(A) Are best suited f r providing food, seed, fiber forage, timber, forestry,
products, horticultural crops, and oil seed crops,
(B) Have good soil qualities;
(C) Have a favorable growing season;
(D) Are favorable for all major crops common to the county where the land
is located,
(E) Receive the available moisture need to produce high yields for an
average of eight out often years; or
(F) 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
Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion -control practices that
are addressed to said highly erodible land; and
(601.3) Be the subject ofa Conservation Agreement, as defined in G.S 121-35, between
the County and the owner of such land that prohibits nonfarm 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.
Qualifying documentation for the term easement shall be attached to the deed by the landowner.
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 and Renewal of Conservation Agreement
Enhanced Agricultural Districts require an irrevocable Conservation Agreement between the Agriculture
Advisory Board and the landowner that cannot be revoked for ten (10) years.
The Agriculture Advisory Board may revoke the Conservation Agreement based on noncompliance by the
landowner, subject to the same provision as contained in Article V for appeal of denials. Such revocation
shall result in loss of qualifying farm statue and loss of eligibility to participate in a district
The Conservation Agreement entered into between the Agriculture Advisory Board and the landowner
pursuant to G.S. 106-743.1(a)(2) shall be irrevocable for a period of ten (10) years from the date the
agreement is executed. At the end of its term, a Conservation Agreement shall automatically renew for a
term three (3) years, unless notice of termination is given in a timely manner by either party as prescribed
in this Ordinance. The benefits set forth in Article PHI shall be available to the farmland that is the
subject of the Conservation Agreement for the duration of the Conservation Agreement.