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County staff reports acres preserved; commissioners discuss priorities and solar on farmland
Summary
Carroll County staff updated the Board on agricultural preservation programs: 47,357 acres preserved via MALPF and 26,117 acres under the county program; commissioners discussed priorities for the next 20,000 acres and expressed concern about solar development on agricultural remainders.
County agricultural preservation staff briefed commissioners on Jan. 15 about the county’s multiple farmland‑conservation programs, funding and program priorities.
Presenter JP said the county has preserved 47,357 acres on 422 farms through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) and 26,117 acres on 234 farms through the county’s Ag Preservation program. “Currently, we have 47,357 acres on 422 farms preserved through the Maryland Ag Land Preservation Foundation,” JP stated during the briefing.
JP reviewed program qualifications, funding sources (MALPF is funded primarily through state transfer taxes and the county typically secures a local bond to cover the county’s 40 percent match), and the Critical Farms program that provides upfront assistance to buyers of at‑risk farms. Staff presented projected available funds for FY26 (roughly $5.29 million projected) and noted an approved FY26 applicant that has not yet come to the Board and will reduce the unassigned balance.
Commissioners used the presentation to press for a clearer, strategic approach to the next 20,000 acres of preservation — discussing whether the county should steer preservation to avoid encircling town centers, prioritize contiguous easements, or target specific watershed or agricultural values. Several commissioners raised solar development on small agricultural remainders as an emerging concern and asked staff to incorporate solar‑remainder policy into preservation priorities.
Staff also described the Rural Legacy program (Upper Patapsco and Little Pipe Creek areas), which is grant funded and requires awarded grants to be used within 18 months.
Commissioners thanked Ag Preservation staff for the update and asked for follow‑up analysis on prioritization criteria and funding carryover into FY27.
