North Carolina § 106-739 - Agricultural advisory board.

§ 106-739. Agricultural advisory board.

An ordinance adopted under this Part or Part 3 of this Article shall provide for the establishment of an agricultural advisory board, organized and appointed by the board of county commissioners or the city council adopting the ordinance. The county or city that adopted the ordinance may confer upon this advisory board authority to: Review and make recommendations or decisions concerning the establishment and modification of agricultural districts. The board of county commissioners or the city council may make decisions regarding the establishment and modification of voluntary agricultural districts or may delegate that authority to the agricultural advisory board. If the authority is delegated to the agricultural advisory board, the agricultural advisory board's decisions shall be appealable to the board of county commissioners or city council by an owner of land that has been denied enrollment in a voluntary agricultural district or has been removed from a voluntary agricultural district by the agricultural advisory board. Execute agreements with landowners necessary for enrollment of land in a voluntary agricultural district. Review and make recommendations concerning any ordinance or amendment adopted or proposed for adoption under this Part or Part 3 of this Article. Hold public hearings on public projects likely to have an impact on agricultural operations, particularly if such projects involve condemnation of all or part of any qualifying farm. Advise the governing board of the county or city that adopted the ordinance on projects, programs, or issues affecting the agricultural economy or way of life within the county. Perform other related tasks or duties assigned by the governing board of the county or city that adopted the ordinance. The members of the agricultural advisory board shall be chosen to provide the broadest possible representation of the geographical regions of the local government and to represent, to the extent possible, all segments of agricultural production existing within the local government. A majority of the members of the agricultural advisory board shall be actively engaged in agriculture. The agricultural advisory board may, at the discretion of the board of county commissioners or the city council, utilize an existing local government agency for the purpose of administration, record keeping, and other related tasks or duties. History (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1025, s. 1; 2005-390, ss. 3, 13; 2021-78, s. 1.) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2021-78, s. 14(a), is a severability clause. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2005-390, s. 13, effective September 13, 2005, in the introductory paragraph, inserted "this Part of Part 3" and "or city that adopted the ordinance" twice following "county"; inserted "this Part of Part 3 of" in subdivision (2); and substituted "the governing board of the county or city that adopted the ordinance" for "the board of county commissioners" in subdivisions (4) and (5). Session Laws 2021-78, s. 1, effective July 2, 2021, designated former paragraphs as subsection (a); substituted "by the board of county commissioners or the city council adopting the ordinance” for "as the county or city that adopted the ordinance shall deem appropriate” in subsection (a); rewrote subdivision (a)(1); added subdivision (a)(1a); added subsections (b), and (c); and made stylistic changes.