Ch. 3

1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

during previous fiscal years, and after subtraction of any money remaining in the fund as
a result of a transfer of a local program open space funds made pursuant to [Article -
Natural Resources,] § 5-903 OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE.

[(2)] (3) "General purchases of easements" means purchases of agricultural
land preservation easements under this subtitle in which the governing body of the county
in which the land is located is not required to make a contribution to the Maryland
Agricultural Land Preservation Fund.

[(3)] (4) "Matching purchases of easements" means purchases of
agricultural land preservation easements under this subtitle in which the governing body
of the county in which the land is located is required to make a contribution to the
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Fund of an amount equal to at least 40 percent
of the value of the easement for each such purchase.

[(4)] (5) "Allotted purchases" means general or matching purchases made
pursuant to offers to buy tendered by the foundation on or before January 31 in the first
offer cycle and on or before July 31 in the second offer cycle.

[(5)](6) "County" means any county containing productive agricultural
land which is being actively farmed and which meets the criteria for land which easements
may be purchased.

[(6)] (7) "Eligible county" means a county as defined in [(5)] (6) which has
secured approval from the foundation for a local agricultural land preservation program.

DRAFTER'S NOTE:

Error: Incorrect tabulation and internal reference and obsolete style of
citation in § 2-508(a) of the Agriculture Article.

Occurred: Ch. 883, Acts of 1977.

2-509.

(a)     The foundation shall adopt [rules,] regulations and procedures for:

(1)     Establishment and monitoring of agricultural districts;

(2)     Evaluation of land to be included within agricultural districts; and

(3)     Purchase of easements.

(b)      [Rules, regulations] REGULATIONS and procedures adopted by the
foundation for the establishment and monitoring, of agricultural districts shall provide
that:

(1) One or more owners of land actively devoted to agricultural use may file.
a petition with the county governing body requesting the establishment of an agricultural
district composed of the land owned by the petitioners. The petition shall include maps
and descriptions of the current use of land in the proposed district.

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