Title
Receive a presentation and vote to approve Chatham Agricultural Preservation & Development (CAPD) Trust Fund Recommendations from the Agricultural Advisory Board and Chatham Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors
Abstract
Introduction & Background:
Chatham County is losing prime farm and forestry land at an alarming rate. According to a recent study by the American Farmland Trust, Chatham County is projected to lose 44% of its working landscapes by 2040, ranking it as one of top five North Carolina counties in projected loss of working landscapes.
The CAPD Trust Fund was unanimously approved by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on October 17, 2022, to support agricultural preservation and development within Chatham County. Funding for the CAPD Trust Fund was designated in the Article 46 tax referendum that was approved by Chatham County voters in the March 2020 voter referendum. The purpose of the CAPD is to provide project support and acquisition funding to local and regional land trusts, who will acquire, hold, and steward the conservation easements. With the Commissioners approval on October 2, 2023, the CAPD Trust Fund opened its first application round in December 2023 for farmland preservation projects in Chatham County.
After a successful CAPD grant application period this winter, the Chatham County Agricultural Advisory Board (February 13, 2024, meeting) and the Chatham Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors (March 14, 2024, meeting) have voted to recommend funding of the following four grant applications:
* Project A: A permanent conservation easement acquisition on 87 acres of working farmland off Otis Johnson Road in northern Chatham County. CAPD funding of $12,000 is recommended for legal defense/stewardship endowment funding.
o Grantee: Triangle Lands Conservancy
o Matching Grants (pending): North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund
o Anticipated project closing date: Summer/Fall...
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