ARIZONA STATE SENATE
southern
Arizona veteran’s home
(NOW: agriculture preservation districts)
Appropriates $1 million from the state general fund to the Department of Commerce in FY 2001-2002 to develop land use plans in noise and accident potential zones surrounding active military airports and appropriates $2 million from the state general fund to the Department of Agriculture in FY 2002-2003 for the support of agriculture preservation districts.
In 1999, the Legislature authorized the formation and operation of agriculture preservation districts (district) for the purpose of maintaining and encouraging agricultural uses of land and preserving open space uses without impairment of private property rights (Laws 1999, Chapter 258). The districts are formed through a petition to the county board of supervisors by a majority of the taxable property owners in the proposed district boundaries.
The district’s board of directors has the power to acquire or dispose of any real or personal property or lease the development rights for real property to further the purpose of the district. For this purpose, the district is authorized to spend private monies, contributions, grants or legislative appropriations. Additionally, legislation was enacted in 2000 to allow the board of directors to grant corporate and individual income tax credits to landowners of agricultural property that transfer the ownership of their land or development rights to the district (Laws 2000, Chapter 267).
1. Appropriates $1 million from the state general fund to the Department of Commerce in FY 2001-2002 to develop comprehensive land use plans in the noise and accident potential zones surrounding active military airports. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
2. Requires the Department of Commerce to use private planning agencies and consultants to identify acceptable and feasible uses of land surrounding military airports while taking into account the economic viability of those uses.
3. Requires the planning agencies and consultants to give priority attention to military airports in Maricopa County and communicate and consult with affected landowners, affected counties and municipalities and other interested parties.
4. Appropriates $2 million from the state general fund to the Department of Agriculture in FY 2002-2003 for long-term support of agriculture preservation districts. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
5. Conditions the $1 million appropriation in FY 2001-2002 on the approval and enactment of the $2 million appropriation in FY 2002-2003.
6. Increases the maximum term of a lease of development rights by a district from five-year terms, which are renewable, to 25-year terms with incremental five-year reviews by the district board of directors.
7. Makes technical changes.
8. Provides for a general effective date.
GOV 1/29/01 DP 5-0-1 MVAA 3/29/01 DPA/SE 6-2-2
APPROP 3/6/01 DPA 11-0-1 APPROP 4/18/01 DPA/SE 11-3-0-2
3rd Read 3/15/01 29-0-1 3rd Read 4/25/01 47-9-4
Final Read 5/1/01 20-9-1
Signed by the Governor: 5/4/01
Chapter 318
Prepared by Senate Staff
May 17, 2001