Mecklenburg County has recently adopted a new ordinance to help protect local farmland and support agricultural endeavors within its borders. As reported by MeckNC.gov, this ordinance opens the door for the establishment of Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD) and Enhanced VADs, designed to give farms better visibility, and with that, hopefully, more stability.
Under this initiative, local farms can apply on a voluntary basis to participate in preservation programs, reaping benefits intended to boost agricultural welfare. The county sees this as a dual-purpose strategy, "to preserve farmland, support farmers, and promote agriculture." The ordinance also stipulates a conservation agreement between the landowner and the County, which will bar nonfarm use or development for a 10-year period, a layer of defense for those who work the land against the encroach of urban sprawl.
The Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District has been given the reins to administer the program, with support from Mecklenburg County and NC Cooperative Extension – Mecklenburg County Center. Recognizing the collective effort, the City of Charlotte, along with several other municipalities, have all given their nod to the ordinance. "We have over 10,000 acres of agricultural land remaining in Mecklenburg County, including horticulture, livestock, and forestry," said Erin Stanforth, Mecklenburg County sustainability and resiliency manager, in a statement underscoring the significance of local agriculture.
This move is seen as a win for the farming community in Mecklenburg County, as it offers a structured way for them to retain ownership and usage of their lands in the face of development pressures. The harmony of urban and rural exists in a fraught balance, and this ordinance appears to be a clear step by Mecklenburg to ensure that balance tips in favor of those who till the soil.
