(a) Generally. Any landowner whose land is devoted in whole or in part to agriculture or woodlands may file an application with the Office of Planning and Zoning requesting that the County purchase an easement if the land includes at least 50 contiguous acres for agricultural land or at least 25 contiguous acres for woodlands.
(b) Application. The application shall be filed in the manner and with the supporting documentation required by the Office of Planning and Zoning.
(c) Review by Agricultural Land Coordinator. On receipt of an application, the Agricultural Land Coordinator shall review the application, meet with the landowner, and recommend to the Planning and Zoning Officer whether to purchase an easement.
(d) Planning and Zoning Officer. Within 60 days after receipt of an application, the Planning and Zoning Officer shall determine whether the property is eligible for purchase by the County of an easement and, if an eligibility determination is made, direct the Agricultural Land Coordinator to order an appraisal.
(e) Ineligibility. Among other factors, a property may not be eligible for the purchase of an easement if:
(1) the landowner fails to provide the information requested by the County or to cooperate with the Agricultural Land Coordinator or any State or County agency with regard to admission into a program; or
(2) the property does not meet the minimum qualifications for acreage, soil classification, water and sewer service designation, and applicable zoning as set forth in regulations adopted under § 17-10-212.
(f) Purchase price. The purchase price of the proposed easement shall be established in accordance with § 17-10-208(a).
(g) State program. If a property is eligible for the State program, the Agricultural Land Coordinator shall refer the landowner to the State program instead of processing the application through the County program.
(1985 Code, Art. 24, § 2-206) (Bill No. 56-99; Bill No. 20-00)