Davis County approves agricultural protection area for Mills family farm

Davis County commissioners on Aug. 26 approved an agricultural protection area application from Larry and Nancy Mills covering two parcels totaling 5.91 acres in unincorporated Davis County.

The designation, approved after a public hearing and a recommendation from the county’s Agricultural Advisory Board and Planning Commission, will recognize and protect the property’s continued agricultural use. Jenny Gloman, planner with the Community and Economic Development Department, presented the application and said the Mills family has farmed the land southwest of the city for about 150 years and currently runs a cattle feed operation and grows and bales hay on adjacent leased land.

County staff told commissioners the parcels are zoned A-10 (agricultural and farm production) and that the application met the criteria set out in state law for an agricultural protection area. Gloman said the operation sources about 25 acres of local grain silage for winter feed, that the cattle are kept on the property primarily from November through June, and that the family has pursued grants and irrigation improvements on adjacent leased land. She told commissioners the county had received no objections to the application.

During the hearing a commissioner asked whether the designation is permanent; Gloman replied that the family can remove the property from the protection area in the future if they choose. A commissioner also asked whether there is a minimum parcel size; Gloman said the minimum is five acres.

After the public hearing was opened and closed, commissioners voted to approve item 4, the Mills application. The motion passed with all commissioners voting in favor.

The approval recognizes existing agricultural activity on the parcels and the applicants’ stated intent to continue investing in agricultural production. The county planner noted the application had the backing of the Agricultural Advisory Board and the Planning Commission. No written objections were recorded in the presentation to the commission.

The commission did not attach any additional conditions on the record beyond those required by the county’s application process and state criteria. The county record will show the agricultural protection area designation and the related parcel information for the two parcels totaling 5.91 acres.

Commissioners closed the public hearing and moved on to other business after the approval.