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Agricultural: Preserving large swaths of farmland <br />Agricultural communities encompass areas with prime agricultural soils that are planned and <br />zoned for long-term agricultural use. These communities are home to the bulk of contiguous <br />lands enrolled in the Metropolitan Agricultural Preserves and Green Acres Programs or <br />cultivated for commercial agricultural purposes. <br />Orderly and Efficient Land Use <br />Council Role <br />• Promote the use of the Agricultural Preserves and Green Acres programs to preserve <br />prime agricultural soils and land uses by supporting local efforts that maintain agricultural <br />land uses through 2040. <br />• Partner with communities to plan for post-2040 development growth in a manner that <br />protects farmland and the regional agricultural economy while accommodating efficient <br />expansion of regional urban infrastructure in areas where forecasts project market <br />demand. <br />Community Role <br />• Limit residential development and adopt zoning ordinances and/or other official controls <br />to maintain residential densities no greater than 1 housing unit per 40 acres. <br />• Support enrollment in the Agricultural Preserves and the Green Acres programs to <br />preserve prime agricultural soils and agricultural land uses. <br />• Maintain agricultural land uses through at least 2040 as a primary long-term use to <br />preserve prime agricultural lands and to preserve land for efficient expansion of post- <br />2040 regional infrastructure where appropriate. <br />• Manage land uses to prevent the premature demand for extension of urban services, and <br />so that existing service levels (i.e. on -site wastewater management, gravel, and other <br />local roads) will meet service needs. <br />• Develop and implement strategies for protecting farmlands, such as exclusive agricultural <br />zoning, agricultural security districts, and lower residential densities such as 1 housing <br />unit per 80 acres. <br />Natural Resources Protection <br />Council Role <br />• Promote agricultural practices that protect the region's water resources, including both <br />surface water resources and groundwater resources. <br />• Provide information to communities about how to incorporate environmentally sensitive <br />development techniques into farm -related construction. <br />Community Role <br />See Natural Resource Protection policy discussion in the Land Use Policy introduction. <br />DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT <br />Last revised: February 21, 2014 114 <br />