Ag districts,
subdivisions on table

•Mobile home park seeks approval.

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Voluntary agricultural districts.

It’s a program aimed at protecting and preserving farmland from non-agricultural development and the Columbus County Planning board is exploring the possibility of implementing such a program in Columbus County.

Chairman Lacy Wilson pointed out at a previous meeting that as development from coastal counties continues to cross into Columbus County, protection for farmers may be needed. He pointed out he had heard of situations in which farmers were held liable for flying dust or penalized for loud machinery considered to be a nuisance to residential developments constructed in previously rural areas.

Interim planner Don Eggert with the Cape Fear Council of Governments provided the board with information about the Brunswick County program and included it with the board packets. Eggert points out in the agenda that a representative with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources has offered to give a presentation on voluntary agricultural districts, at the board’s request.

The Brunswick County program is designed to offer protection from nuisance lawsuits, and prevent forced connections to county water or sewer. An agricultural board approved by the board of commissioners governs the Brunswick County program.

To participate, farms must contain at least a 10-acre tract of land and participate in the present use value taxation program. In addition, Cooperative Extension and Natural Resources Conservation must assert that two-thirds of the land area is used for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, livestock or wildlife production.

To join the program, Brunswick County members pay a $25 fee and sign an agreement that prohibits non-farm use. That agreement is revocable, however, and the participant can void the agreement by notifying the Agricultural board in writing.

In other matters:

The board will consider a mobile home park request.

Kenneth Dale Reaves is seeking approval of Sweet Gum Trailer Park located off Rough and Ready Road. The site is roughly three miles west of U.S. 701 and already has existing mobile homes on three lots.

A copy of the proposed plat subdivides the tract of land into six lots and calls for two 20-foot private drives.

The board will also discuss a subdivision ordinance. The county currently has no such ordinance in place. A campground,
recreational vehicle park and mobile home park ordinance are the only planning ordinances that regulate the subdivision of property in Columbus County. The county spent several years working on an ordinance that commissioners voted down last year.