Commissioners to consider farmland preservation policies
Feb. 15—Preserving farmland will be a dominant discussion theme at Monday's meeting of the Lee County commissioners.
A public hearing is planned on a request to adopt the Lee County Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Ordinance. It is aimed at replacing the current Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance that was adopted in 2013, according to agenda documents.
The proposed ordinance is the result of state legislators' adoption of the Farm Act of 2021 and enhances voluntary agricultural districts.
The update includes the addition of the Enhanced Voluntary Preservation Ordinance, which provides landowners with the benefits of the current version. It also adds options for the sale of non-farm products, eligibility for some cost-share programs and priorities for consideration in applying for grants.
Under the proposal, participants agree to a 10-year irrevocable agreement which creates a level of sustained commitment to the conservation agreement.
"The other most significant suggested revision to this policy is the decrease of the minimum acreage required for a landowner to qualify for the program," according to agenda documents.
The change would allow landowners whose farms qualify as a "bona fide" farm to enroll in the program with just one acre of land in production for horticultural or agricultural purposes.
This change reflects the emergence of the growth of small farms across the county meeting the requirements for a bona fide operation that didn't qualify under the 2013 version.
If the board agrees, a public hearing will be held at the next meeting.
The commissioners will also consider a proposed Conservation Easement Policy that will let landowners seek the county's involvement financially or as a party and create an Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Fund.
It also includes a request to use $340,610 from the county's fund balance based on rollback taxes in the last two fiscal years for the program.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Dennis Wicker Civic Center at 1800 Nash St.
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