APPROVED 1/28/10

RESOLUTION ON PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

Save Our Sandhills

WHEREAS, dramatic increases in North Carolina’s population are predicted for the next two decades; and

WHEREAS, it is more urgent than ever to save and protect open space and wildlife habitats for future generations of Moore County citizens; and

WHEREAS, a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program provides incentives for private landowners to voluntarily save and protect farmland and natural areas by selling development rights to a qualified nonprofit land trust or to a government entity; and

WHEREAS, the landowner can continue to own the property and to use it for farming, or outdoor recreation, or in any other manner that does not violate the terms of the agreement, which will be set forth in a conservation easement document: and

WHEREAS, a PDR program has significant advantages over a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program since the latter requires that sending and receiving zones be identified, increasing the likelihood of having unhappy landowners; and                     

WHEREAS, PDR programs do not require enabling legislation by the NC General Assembly and can be set up by a county government with minimal funding, with a plan to raise additional funds in the future by setting aside small amounts of money in county capital improvement programs, by various types of bond referendums, and by grant applications from a variety of sources, including from state trust funds; and

WHEREAS, assistance can be obtained from Alamance and other counties that have already initiated PDR programs;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Save Our Sandhills (SOS) meeting in Southern Pines, NC on January 28, 2010 urges the Moore County Commissioners to give consideration to the idea of devising and adopting a PDR program for Moore County.

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