Union County steering committee presents rural land-use vision and outlines purchase-of-development-rights approach

At the Feb. 25 meeting of the Union County Land Use Board, Alan Baucham, chair of the county’s rural land-use plan steering committee, presented an updated vision statement and described draft strategies aimed at preserving farmland, open space and wildlife habitat while guiding rural development.

Baucham read the steering committee’s approved vision: “In the rural areas of Union County, we cherish a way of life where farms and protected open spaces define our community. As stewards of the land, we treasure the balance between living close to nature and preserving our agricultural heritage.” He told the board the committee will deliver recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in April 2026 and asked for feedback from the Land Use Board.

The steering committee described partners, funding and analyses that inform its work. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission provided $10,000 through its Partners for Green Growth program with a matching $10,000 contribution from Union County; that contract began in October 2024 and the steering committee projects an 18‑month schedule with final work targeted for February 2026. Catawba Lands Conservancy has produced a countywide model on a 30‑meter grid to help identify quality farmland and wildlife habitat for…