Public Hearings - AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION DISTRICT- Public He

A public hearing was held today at 10:45 a.m. in the County Commissioners’ Hearing Room, County Government Center, Chestertown, Maryland, for the purpose of discussing the voluntary application of the Southern Cattle Company, LLC represented by John Dean Orndorff, to create an agricultural preservation district on its 126 acre farm located on 27837 Morgnec Road, Chestertown, in the 2nd Election District.

County Commissioners Roy Crow, Ronald Fithian, and William Pickrum, were in attendance as well as Susanne Hayman, County Administrator, Gail Owings, Director of Planning, Carla Gerber, Community Planner, Amy Moredock, Environmental Planner, approximately 4 interested persons and two members of the media.

Commissioner Crow read the Notice of Public Hearing into the record.

Mrs. Gerber reported that the farm consists of 10 acres of crop land, 87 acres of pasture and 13 acres of woodland. Over 87% of the soils are considered Class II or III. There is no dwelling on the property. The farm is zoned “AZD”, Agricultural Zoning District and is outside of the 10 year Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan. This farm is adjacent to over 1,700 acres of land protected by easements. It is generally surrounded by farmland with the Village of Morgnec just to the south. It is located within the Agricultural Priority Area.

Ms. Gerber referred to correspondence received from the Planning Commission dated March 12, and the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board dated March 12, recommending approval of this application. Ms. Gerber also clarified that the applicant would need to apply to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation if easement is desired at a later date.

There were no comments or questions received from the audience.


This hearing was taped for reference and adjourned at 10:50 a.m.




Janice F. Fletcher
Executive Assistant
Approved:
Roy W. Crow, President