Title
Receive a presentation and vote to approve the FY27 Chatham Agricultural Preservation and Development Funding
Abstract
The Chatham Agricultural Preservation and Development (CAPD) grant program was established in 2023 to provide funding to support permanent farmland preservation in Chatham County. For FY27, the Chatham County Farmland Preservation Programs is requesting $1,130,266.68 to facilitate the permanent preservation of 342 acres of Chatham County Farmland and to support ongoing outreach and project development efforts of Triangle Land Conservancy.
Discussion & Analysis: Approval of funding for these CAPD grant projects will support the permanent conservation of approximately 342 acres of working landscapes in Chatham County. Also requested is an organizational support grant of $75,000 to support the ongoing landowner outreach and farmland preservation project development by Triangle Land Conservancy. Approval of these recommendations will place Chatham County at the forefront of county-supported farmland preservation programs in North Carolina, emphasizing the Board of Commissioners’ support for a robust farmland preservation program.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: The Chatham Comprehensive Plan devotes an entire section within Chapter IV to preservation and development of Chatham County’s agriculture and forestry resources. The recommended projects support the “Primary Goal” of this section, which is to “Preserve, protect, and enable agriculture and forestry,” as well as the secondary goal of “Preserving the rural character and lifestyle of Chatham County.” These CAPD projects support Policy 5 in this section, which recommends that Chatham County “Support permanent, voluntary protection of agricultural lands” and “implement a county-led farmland protection policy” and Strategy 5.1: “Implement a county-led farmland protection program.”
These projects also support action recommendations in the current “Chatham County Farmland Preservation Plan,” including “Build support for conservation easement programs” and “Develop a local funding option for farmland preservation projects” within “Recommendation 4: Build support for a County Working Lands Protection Program.”
The Organizational Support grant supports other elements of the “Plan Chatham,” including a recommended strategy to “partner with land trusts to provide technical assistance to those who demonstrate interest in establishing agricultural conservation easements” (Strategy 1.1 in the Agriculture Section).
Budgetary Impact: The requested funds are currently available in the unallocated balance of the county’s Farmland Preservation Fund. No other budget impacts are anticipated.
Recommendation/Motion: Motion to approve the allocation of $1,130,266.68 to fund the FY27 Chatham Agricultural Preservation and Development projects.