[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of
Worcester County 5-14-1985 as Subtitle III of Title 1 of Bill No. 85-2. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created an Agricultural Preservation Advisory
Board, the members of which shall be appointed by the County Commissioners.
The composition, member terms and duties of the Board shall be as
prescribed by Public General Law. The County Commissioners shall designate
a department as staff support for said Board.
Agricultural districts may be created in accordance with the
provisions of Public General Law. Such districts shall provide for
the protection of normal agricultural activities in the districts
through the following provisions: (1) any farm use of land is permitted;
(2) operation at any time of machinery used in farm production or
the primary processing of agricultural products is permitted; (3)
normal agricultural activities and operations in accordance with good
husbandry practices, which do not cause bodily injury or directly
endanger human health, are permitted and preferred activities, including
activities which may produce normal agriculturally related noise and
odors; (4) the sale of farm products produced on the farm where the
sales are made is permitted.
The Department of Planning, Permits and Inspections shall be
responsible for maintaining and revising the official Agricultural
Land Preservation District Maps, which shall indicate the establishment,
alteration and abolition of such districts and their boundaries. Maps
shall be available for public inspection during usual business hours
at the Department of Planning, Permits and Inspections.
Upon the recommendation of the Agricultural Land Preservation
Board, the County Commissioners may adopt an Agricultural Land Preservation
Program and may make appropriations for the acquisition of easements
and development rights for the purpose of the preservation of agricultural
land.
[Added 6-20-2006 by Bill No. 06-07]
The minimum length of time for any agreement with the Maryland
Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Board as established by
public general law shall be three years.
