AG 2002 12 16 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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set after discussions with WSACC, Mount Pleasant, Concord, Kannapolis, and area residents. The investment in public utility infrastructure should not be made outside of the designated Urban Service Area. Transfer / Purchase of Development Rights Ultimately the best way to ensure the protection of open space and agricultural land is to eliminate the potential for any development to occur by purchasing the right to develop land from a willing seller. There are two means by which development fights may be purchased. The first is by a government or non-profit agency and the other is by the private sector. Non-profit and government involvement in the purchase of development rights began in the 1970's in the Eastern United States. It is seen as a less expensive way to protect open space than the outright purchase of a tract of land for three reasons. First, the cost to purchase development fights is typically less than the outright purchase of a tract of land. Second, since the land still belongs to a private citizen the costs associated with managing the land remain the responsibility of the landowner. Finally, since the tract is still in private ownership property tax on the agricultural value of the land are still paid. The private sector can also be involved in the purchase of development rights. In this scenario the public sector permits a development company to purchase development rights in one area and transfer those units to another portion of their jurisdiction. This permits the developer to increase the permitted density for their project in a receiving area while at the same time protecting farmland and open space in a sending area. It is important to state that either option is a purely market driven, voluntary method by which to preserve agricultural land and open space. Each option requires both a willing seller and a willing buyer. While the first option is already established through the existing area land trusts it could be even more successful. Around the region there is not a lack of willing sellers but a lack of funding to accommodate willing sellers. To date, there is not an example of the second option in the region. Recommendations: 1. As authorized by North Carolina General Statute 106.744, establish an advisory board to examine the establishment of and funding options for a purchase and/or transfer of development rights program in Cabarms County. 2. Develop a Countywide Farmland Protection Plan in conformance with the requirements of 106.744 in order to obtain funding from the North Carolina Farmland Trust Fund. By developing such a plan the County would reduce its matching fund requirement from 30 percent to 15 percent. Development Review Process During the public workshops it was made clear that residents were not satisfied with some of the development that had taken place in recent years. Specifically, residents felt that the larger subdivision projects that had taken place did not fit with their vision for Eastern Cabarrus County. The residents proposed solution is to require more public input for larger projects by requiring the issuance of a conditional use permit for proposed major subdivisions. Items that residents felt should be addressed during the conditional use permit review process include: