[Ord. No. 06-17, § 1, 9-6-2006]
This article is adopted in accordance with G.L. 1956, § 2-23.1-1,
et seq. which declares:
(1)
That the preservation and expansion of agriculture are goals of the
state;
(2)
That among economic activities, agriculture is uniquely dependent
on the land;
(3)
That land use and water usage regulation and land taxation can have
significant impacts on the viability of agricultural operations;
(4)
That the understanding of such impacts is often not widespread or
readily included in decision making; and
(5)
That farmers, who have an appreciation of such impacts, may not know
in a timely manner that actions are being considered at the local
level that could have a direct and significant impact on agricultural
operations.
[Ord. No. 06-17, § 1, 9-6-2006]
The purpose of this article is to foster communications between
the Town of Cumberland and its farmers on local actions that have
a direct and significant impact on agricultural operations.
[Ord. No. 06-17, § 1, 9-6-2006]
Notification of matters subject to notification as set forth in § 30-186 below shall be given to farmers as required by G.L. 1956 2-23.1-1 et seq., as amended from time to time.
[Ord. No. 06-17, § 1, 9-6-2006]
The officials hereinafter designated are to provide written
notification to farmers not less than seven business days after a
matter subject to notification is formally proposed for study or consideration
by a public body in which the matter originates. The written notification
shall, at a minimum, state the matter subject to notification, the
public body which will be studying or considering the matter and provide
the name of the Town official whom said farmers may contact to request
additional information or to request a work session. Any farmer may
request a work session in writing within 10 business days after such
notification to review the impact of the matter subject to notification.
The request shall be made to the official designated on the notification
to receive such requests. Within 20 business days after the receipt
of such a request, said official shall notify in writing all farmers
on the notification list of the request, providing the location, time
and date of a work session, which shall not be sooner than seven business
days after the date of notice of the work session. The purpose of
the work session shall be to review and consider the effects of the
matter subject to notification on farming. The work session shall
be open to the public and shall be prior to any final action on the
matter subject to notification, and the findings and conclusions of
the work session shall be reported to the public body. Not more than
one work session shall be required. This paragraph is in accordance
with G.L. 1956 §§ 2-23.1-4 and 2-23.1-6.
[Ord. No. 06-17, § 1, 9-6-2006]
Matters subject to notification shall include the following:
|
Subject Matter
|
Responsible Town Official
| |
|---|---|---|
|
(a)
|
Changes of the zoning and/or permitted uses of land used for
farming
|
Director of Planning and Development
|
|
(b)
|
Designation or amendment of the designation of land use for
farming in the Comprehensive Plan or land use ordinances
|
Director of Planning and Development
|
|
(c)
|
Changes in the manner of the taxation of real and personal property
used for farming
|
Assessor
|
|
(d)
|
Regulation of water use for farming purposes
|
Director of Water Supply
|
|
(e)
|
Control of noise and hours of operation of machinery and equipment
used in farming
|
Town Clerk
|
