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March 7, 2016 (Work Session) Page 2662 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met for an Agenda Work Session in the Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina on Monday, March 7, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. Present - Chairman: Stephen M. Morris Vice Chairman: Diane R. Honeycutt Commissioners: Grace M. Mynatt Elizabeth F. Poole Lynn W. Shue Also present were Mike Downs, County Manager; Richard M. Koch, County Attorney; Pam Dubois, Senior Deputy County Manager; Jonathan Marshall, Deputy County Manager; and Megan Smit, Clerk to the Board. Call to Order Chairman Morris called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. Approval of Agenda Chairman Morris presented the following changes to the Agenda: Supplemental Information: Discussion Items for Action 4.10 Tax Collection - Advertisement of 2015 Tax Liens on Real Property • Order to Advertise UPON MOTION of Commissioner Poole, seconded by Commissioner Mynatt and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Agenda as amended. Discussion Items for Action at March 21, 2016 Meeting Cooperative Extension - Proposed Amendment to the Code of Ordinances Regarding the Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance Robert Furr, Cooperative Extension Director, requested an amendment to the Code of Ordinances regarding the Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance. He reviewed the changes recommended by Agricultural Advisory Boards. He also responded to questions from the Board. Cabarrus County Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance Proposed Changes Article VII (Certification and Qualification of Farmland) CURRENTLY READS Requirements To secure county certification as qualifying farmland, a farm must: 1. Be participating in the farm present- use -value taxation program established by N.C.G.S. 105 -277.2 through 105- 277.7, or is otherwise determined by the county to meet all the qualifications of this program set forth in G.S. 105 -27.3; 2. Have been actively used in agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations as defined by N.C.G.S. 105 -277.2 (1,2,3) during each of the five previous years, measured from the date on which the determination must be made as to whether the land in question qualifies; Be the subject of a conservation agreement as defined in N.C.G.S. 121 -35, between the county and the owner of such land that prohibits non -farm use or development of such land for at least ten years, except for the creation of not more than five lots that meet applicable county zoning and subdivision regulations. 3. Agree to the conservation agreement between Cabarrus Countv and the owner that the Enhanced Voluntary Aaricultural District cannot be revoked for at least 10 vears. PROPOSED READING In order for farmland to qualify for inclusion into the voluntary agricultural district or the enhanced voluntary agricultural district, it must be real property that: 1. Is engaged in agriculture as that word is defined in G.S. 106- 581.1.1 2. Be the subject of a conservation agreement as defined in N.C.G.S. 121 -35, between the county and the owner of such land that prohibits non -farm use or development of such land for at least ten years, except for the