US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      (a)      The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt ordinances that:

            (1)      Establish methods to provide supplemental payments to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Program either independently or under a lease arrangement with an outside funding source or to pay for development rights in an agricultural preservation district in the county; and

            (2)      Provide, in accordance with the regulations and procedures of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, for:

                  (i)      The creation of agricultural preservation districts in the county; and

                  (ii)      Standards and guidelines under which real property in the county is eligible for inclusion into an agricultural preservation district.

      (b)      (1)      The methods to provide supplemental payments to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Program or to pay for development rights under subsection (a)(1) of this section may include the creation of a long-term obligation of Washington County in the nature or form of an installment purchase contract.

            (2)      Any long-term obligation in the nature or form of an installment purchase contract under this section is exempt from the provisions of Article 31, §§ 9, 10, and 11 of the Code.