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Wilkes County amends Voluntary Agricultural District ordinances to follow 2025 state law
Summary
The Board unanimously approved an amendment to the Voluntary Agricultural District and Enhanced VAD Ordinance to implement a 2025 state law change requiring the Agricultural Advisory Board to hear rezoning matters for enrolled parcels and to extend the Advisory Board's review window from 30 to 45 days.
The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to the county Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) Ordinance at its April 7 meeting.
County Attorney Tony Triplett told the board the change implements a 2025 state law that alters the review path for rezoning of enrolled property. "Now, if there's a local government move to rezone property in one of these districts, instead of going to the Planning Board first, it goes to the Agricultural Advisory Board first," Triplett said. The amendment also lengthens the Agricultural Advisory Board’s period to present findings from 30 days to 45 days and clarifies that VAD Conservation Agreements will be recorded, matching current county practice.
Vice Chairman Evan Handy moved to approve the amended ordinance; Commissioner Casey Johnson seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously to adopt it. Chairman Hardin Kennedy and members thanked Claude Shew and the Wilkes County Agricultural Advisory Board for their work on agricultural protections. The amendment applies to the county's voluntary district enrollment and changes administrative timing and recording procedures; the board provided no immediate additional policy direction.
