Chairman Watson and members of the County Council:

The Howard County League of Women Voters generally supports County Council Bill 81 creating the term " farm tenant house" and adding additional duties to the Agricultural Preservation Board.

The League presents these comments based on our Natural Resources position adopted in 1991which states "support for growth management measures that include agriculture as a preferred land use in the rural areas of the county adopted."

The definition of Farm Tenant House that is" located on a parcel of land used for farming and occupied by at least one person who is employed by the owner or operator of the farm to engage in farming on a full or part-time basis" is a solid understandable definition and reflective of Howard County farming needs. Section 15.502 (I)

The League supports the addition to the donated acquisitions "to create a lot for a dwelling for the original owner, or heir of the original owner, who sold the development rights on an easement created prior to May1, 1993." This could add an acre lot or more back into farmland preservation. Pre May 1, 1993 Farm Land Preservation allowed one owners lot per 20 acres plus one lot per 20 acres for the farmers children. Currently the formula is one unrestricted lot for each full 50-acre parcel.

The density of farm tenant houses is not changed in Section 15.514(2). " If permitted under the deed of easement on parcels containing 50 acres of more, Farm Tenant Houses may be constructed at a density of one dwelling per 25 acres." Density includes existing farm tenant houses when the County acquired the easement.

The duties and responsibilities for the Agricultural Preservation Board are increased in Section 15.518 (3) to "review proposal for the construction of farm tenant houses to determine if a proposed farm tenant house is of an appropriate size and is necessary based on the nature of the farming operation on agricultural land preservation easement." The League suggests amending this section to give additional criteria to the Agricultural Preservation Board. The appropriate size of the tenant house should at least be no larger than the principle farm dwelling unit. The farm tenant house location and access should minimize the impact on the farmable land and avoid if possible creating another access onto the adjacent County road.

The League recognizes that the Board will only be dealing with the immediate needs for Farm Tenant Houses; however, once constructed on non- recorded lots these homes are conveyed with the property even if the property is not maintained in active farming status.

The County Council should ask for data related to the current number of Farm Tenant homes on existing preservation parcels and ask for a bi-annual report of Farm Tenant approvals by the Agricultural Land Preservation Board.

The League urges support with amendments to County Council Bill 81-2007.

Grace Kubofcik
Co-president