Title
Vote to amend the Chatham County Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance
Abstract
Introduction & Background: The current Chatham County “Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance” was approved by the Board of Commissioners in June of 2019. Since then, the county’s farmland preservation initiatives have expanded significantly, including establishment of the Chatham Agricultural Preservation and Development grant program, the establishment of dedicated funding streams for farmland preservation, the hiring of a full-time farmland preservation coordinator, and establishment of a formal partnership with the Triangle Land Conservancy.
Since then, the North Carolina general statutes regarding the rules and procedures pertaining to the Voluntary Agricultural District program have also been updated, and our current ordinance is not in compliance with these updates.
In this presentation, Soil & Water Conservation District Director Susannah Goldston will present an updated version of the county’s Farmland Preservation Ordinance which reflects the current objectives and administration of the county’s farmland preservation program and brings our local ordinance in compliance with the N.C. General Statutes.
Discussion & Analysis: Approval of this ordinance update will provide additional benefits and protections to participants in the county’s Voluntary Agricultural District program, reflect the current objectives and administration of the county’s farmland preservation program, and bring our local ordinance into compliance with the North Carolina General Statutes.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: “Plan Chatham’s” Chapter Four describes primary goals of “Preserving the rural character and lifestyle of Chatham County” and “Preserve, protect, and enable agriculture and forestry.” The plan recommends “encouraging participation in the Voluntary Agricultural District program and consider enhancements” to it, as well as “Updates to regulations to better meet the needs of the agricultural community,” along with numerous other goals, objectives, and strategies promoting the preservation of the county’s farms, forests, and working landscapes.
Budgetary Impact: There is no budgetary impact associated with the approval of this ordinance update.
Recommendation/Motion: Motion to amend the Chatham County Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance.