Cecil County Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board Minutes
Thursday, August 8, 2002
Board Members Present: Bob Knutsen (Chair) and David Davis.
Board Members Absent: Wayne Stafford.
Others Present: David Black (OPZ staff), Jodi Lynn Spotts (citizen) and Carl Spotts (citizen).
Chairman Knutsen called the meeting to order at 8:15 p.m. Chairman Knutsen asked for a motion on the July minutes. David Davis made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Bob Knutsen seconded the motion. All were in favor, the motion carried.
New Business
1. Request from William & Janet Hill for relocation of a child's lot previously approved for Jodi Lynn Spotts. PROPERTY LOCATION: West side of Wood Valley Road . Tax Map 5, Grid 20, Parcels 98 & 97. ACREAGE: 1.0 (proposed lot only), 9th Election District. PRESENTLY ZONED: Northern Agricultural Residential (NAR)
Mr. Black advised that there are currently three homes on this farm. This is the first step in the process. The Board of Trustees will make the ultimate decision at their next meeting. Then the lot must go through the County's minor subdivision process.
Motion made by Davis to approve the relocation of a child's lot previously approved for Jodi Lynn Spotts. Knutsen seconded the motion. All were in favor, the motion carried.
Old Business
1. Recommendations for filling Board vacancies caused by the expiration of Mr. Derr's and Mr. McKeown's terms.
Mr. Knutsen advised that the Ag Preservation Advisory Board suggests names to serve on the board and the County Commissioners appoint the members. Mr. Knutsen asked if he should contact the persons recommended by the Board before submitting the names to the County Commissioners . Mr. Black thought that was a good idea. He feels that the more names submitted to the Commissioners, the better off the Board would be.
Three members of the board must be owner/operators of commercial farms who are full-time farmers. Mr. Knutsen advised that the Board has always operated with five full-time farmers.
The recommendations are as follows:
- Jay Milburn
- Floyd Allred
- Steve Balderston
Possibly Allred or Balderston could be an alternate.
Motion made by Davis , seconded by Knutsen, and unanimously carried to recommend consideration of the three names listed to fill the vacancies on the Board, after they are contacted by Chairman Knutsen.
General Discussion/Updates
1. Check-off Box Program
Mr. Knutsen questioned the status of the Check-off Box Program. Mr. Black advised that Mr. Thomey was to check with the Office of the Attorney General on the legalities and/or enabling legislation requirements. Mr. Knutsen stated that it would cost approximately $3,600 to print and insert the pamphlets in tax bills.
2. Position Statement
Mr. Black advised that the Position Statement was adopted March 11, 1999 . He suggested that some of the preservation data could be updated.
Mr. Knutsen stated that he feels the Ag Advisory Board's primary interest is recommendations to the Planning Commission or the County Commissioners ' for approval or disapproval of applications for districts.
Mr. Black advised that the Director of Planning and Zoning is currently working with consultants to do a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). A study is currently being undertaken, and hopefully a TDR can be adopted at the completion of that study. That is some progress since the Position Statement was adopted in 1999.
Mr. Knutsen suggested that Mr. Black make a rough draft of the updates. Then the full Board could adopt that at the next meeting.
3. Update of Establishing Districts.
Mr. Knutsen asked for an update on the two inquiries for establishing districts. Mr. Black advised that he has the soils information and they will qualify for the program. The soil capabilities are over the 60% threshold. He stated that he hasn't received any follow-up on them. The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is working on a possible easement on the Dill property in Warwick.
4. Meetings
Discussion ensued concerning the legalities of meeting over the phone when there is a small agenda, as well as skipping months if there weren't a lot of items on the agenda. There was also discussion on the possibility of meeting every other month in the office and every other month on the phone.
With there being no further items to discuss, Mr. Davis made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Knutsen seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
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