Anyone know the backstory on this? I assume it is motivated by preserving farmland from solar farms or some issue from our recent past?
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE WALTON FOREVER LAND
ACQUISITION PROGRAM; AMENDING PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES TO DEFINE THE PROGRAM AND AMEND SECTIONS OF
THE CODE RELATED THERETO; DESIGNATING THE TYPES OF LANDS
SUBJECT TO THIS PROGRAM WITH PRIORITY BEING GIVEN TO
AGRICULTURAL PROPERTIES; CREATING A COMPETITIVE
SELECTION PROCESS FOR AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO SELECT,
ACQUIRE, AND MANAGE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
ACQUIRED UNDER THIS PROGRAM; PROVIDING DEDICATED
FUNDING AND IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOURCE(S) FOR THE
PROGRAM; REQUIRING THAT ANY FUTURE CHANGES TO THIS
ORDINANCE BE BY A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE; PROVIDING FOR
CODIFICATION IN THE WALTON COUNTY CODE; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICTS AND SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, Walton County ("County") has many natural and scenic lands of great ecological,
educational, and agricultural significance to its citizens and the greater population of Northwest
Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners ("Board") has
endeavored to maintain the County's natural character and scenic attributes, and has adopted
“Pride Preservation Conservation” as part of its official seal and logo and determined that
preservation and conservation is in the best interests of the public; and
WHEREAS, Walton County can protect and conserve lands by preserving environmentally
sensitive lands, water resources, forests, and agricultural lands; and
WHEREAS, Walton County aims to create a process that begins by focusing on preserving
lands, specifically agricultural lands, through the funding of a conservation easement program to
encourage and incentivize the preservation and conservation of such lands; and
WHEREAS, Walton County wishes to fund its own program in order to protect, conserve, and
provide opportunities for future generations to enjoy and benefit from the existence of these lands, and
desires to commence the program through an agricultural conservation easement program, with the
opportunity to expand the program in future years if and when success in this initial endeavor has been
demonstrated.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE WALTON FOREVER LAND
ACQUISITION PROGRAM; AMENDING PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES TO DEFINE THE PROGRAM AND AMEND SECTIONS OF
THE CODE RELATED THERETO; DESIGNATING THE TYPES OF LANDS
SUBJECT TO THIS PROGRAM WITH PRIORITY BEING GIVEN TO
AGRICULTURAL PROPERTIES; CREATING A COMPETITIVE
SELECTION PROCESS FOR AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO SELECT,
ACQUIRE, AND MANAGE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
ACQUIRED UNDER THIS PROGRAM; PROVIDING DEDICATED
FUNDING AND IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOURCE(S) FOR THE
PROGRAM; REQUIRING THAT ANY FUTURE CHANGES TO THIS
ORDINANCE BE BY A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE; PROVIDING FOR
CODIFICATION IN THE WALTON COUNTY CODE; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICTS AND SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, Walton County ("County") has many natural and scenic lands of great ecological,
educational, and agricultural significance to its citizens and the greater population of Northwest
Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners ("Board") has
endeavored to maintain the County's natural character and scenic attributes, and has adopted
“Pride Preservation Conservation” as part of its official seal and logo and determined that
preservation and conservation is in the best interests of the public; and
WHEREAS, Walton County can protect and conserve lands by preserving environmentally
sensitive lands, water resources, forests, and agricultural lands; and
WHEREAS, Walton County aims to create a process that begins by focusing on preserving
lands, specifically agricultural lands, through the funding of a conservation easement program to
encourage and incentivize the preservation and conservation of such lands; and
WHEREAS, Walton County wishes to fund its own program in order to protect, conserve, and
provide opportunities for future generations to enjoy and benefit from the existence of these lands, and
desires to commence the program through an agricultural conservation easement program, with the
opportunity to expand the program in future years if and when success in this initial endeavor has been
demonstrated.