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§ 2-517.1. Farmland Preservation Partnership Program

West's Annotated Code of MarylandAgricultureEffective: October 1, 2011

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Agriculture
Title 2. Department of Agriculture (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 5. Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation
Effective: October 1, 2011
MD Code, Agriculture, § 2-517.1
§ 2-517.1. Farmland Preservation Partnership Program
Currentness
Purpose of Program
(a)(1) The Foundation may establish a Farmland Preservation Partnership Program that is governed by the requirements of this section.
(2) The Farmland Preservation Partnership Program may include the acquisition of easements under the Critical Farms Program as provided under § 2-517 of this subtitle.
(3) The objective of the Partnership Program is to preserve productive agricultural and forested lands.
(4)(i) The Foundation may form partnerships for the purpose of purchasing easements on qualifying properties.
(ii) Except for the Critical Farms Program where State funds may be made available as determined by the Foundation, the Foundation's partners shall cover the full purchase price, which may include the administrative costs of any easement for which the Foundation will be the grantee or the co-grantee.
(iii) The properties that qualify for the Partnership Program shall meet the criteria developed by the Foundation in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
Farms qualified for Program
(b)(1) The Foundation shall develop criteria that determine when a farm qualifies for the Partnership Program.
(2) At a minimum, any qualifying farm shall:
(i) Meet the Foundation's size criteria;
(ii) As determined by the Foundation, contain significant productive agricultural soil or forest soil; and
(iii) Be approved for participation in the Partnership Program by the governing body of the local jurisdiction in which the property is located.
Ranking, valuation, or development restrictions
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, an easement acquired by the Foundation in accordance with this section is not subject to the ranking, valuation, or development restrictions of this subtitle, except as determined by the Foundation's board of trustees.

Credits

Added by Acts 2010, c. 36, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010. Amended by Acts 2011, c. 581, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2011.
MD Code, Agriculture, § 2-517.1, MD AGRIC § 2-517.1
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document