§ 48-10. Additional enhanced agricultural district benefits.

Land enrolled in the Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District program is entitled to all of the benefits available under the Voluntary Agricultural District program, and to the following additional benefits:

(a)

Sale of non-farm products. Landowners participating in Enhanced Districts may receive up to 25 percent of gross sales from the sale of nonfarm products and still qualify as a bona fide farm that is exempt from County zoning regulations under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-340(b). A farmer seeking to benefit from this subsection shall have the burden of establishing that the property's sale of nonfarm products did not exceed 25 percent of its gross sales.

(b)

Agricultural cost share program Landowners participating in Enhanced Districts are eligible under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-215.74(b) to receive the higher percentage of cost-share funds for the benefit of that farmland under the Agriculture Cost Share Program established pursuant to Part 9 of Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes for funds to benefit that farmland.

(c)

Priority consideration. State departments, institutions, or agencies that award grants to farmers are encouraged to give priority consideration to landowners participating in Enhanced Districts.

(d)

Utility assessment waiver. As provided in Section 48-19 below, waiver of all County utility assessments in addition to waiver of water and sewer assessments is available to all participants in Enhanced Districts.

(Ord. of 03-24-1992, Art. X, eff. 04-01-1992; Amend. of 04-17-2000, eff. 04-17-2000; Amend. of 04-20-2010, eff. 04-20-2010)