Blaine County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 37
AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION AREA APA
9-37-1: PURPOSE:
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for a voluntary process through which agricultural and timber producers of Blaine County may make application to commit lands actively devoted to agriculture for future agricultural use. An APA designation aims to protect productive farmland, rangeland, and forest land; promote farm viability; support the local agricultural economy; and provide for long-term planning stability. This ordinance sets out the process for creation of Agriculture Protection Areas as required in Chapter 97, Title 67, of Idaho Code. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-2: DEFINITIONS:
AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION: Activities or conditions conducted on land actively devoted to agriculture as defined in section 63-604, Idaho Code, or on forest land as defined in section 63-1701, Idaho Code.
AGRICULTURE PROTECTION AREA (APA): Specific parcels of land in a designated geographic area voluntarily created under the authority of this chapter for the purpose of protecting and preserving agricultural land.
AGRICULTURE PROTECTION AREA COMMISSION: The advisory board to the governing body created pursuant to section 67-9705, Idaho Code.
APPLICANT: Anyone who owns five (5) contiguous acres or more of land that has been in active agricultural or forest production for the previous three (3) consecutive years, consistent with 1he provisions of sections 63-604 and 63-1701, Idaho Code, and who voluntarily applies for that land to be part of an agricultural protection area.
HARDSHIP: A situation or circumstance over which a landowner in an agricultural protection area has no control and can then petition for removal for reasons that include but are not limited to an adverse result in litigation against the farm or landowner, death of a close family member that would lead to unanticipated financial hardships, significant tax liabilities, bankruptcy due to ano1her person's fraud, or any other illegal activity.
PROPOSAL: Written documents submitted to a governing body or agricultural protection area commission from a landowner regarding their property. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-3: CREATION AND DESIGNATION OF AGRICULTURE PROTECTION AREA:
An Agriculture Protection Area shall be designated as an "APA." An APA designation is a voluntary land use designation available to landowners who wish to protect their agricultural land from future nonagricultural development. To qualify for an APA designation, the land must be:
A. At least five (5) contiguous acres;
B. Actively devoted to an agricultural or forest purpose for the previous three (3) consecutive years consistent with the provisions of sections 63-604 and 63-1701, Idaho Code;
C. Assessed as agriculture or forest land;
D. Entirely zoned A-20, A-40, RR-40, R-10 or R-5; and
E. Is not within an adopted Area of City Impact.
Landowners wishing to establish an APA must submit an application to the Blaine County Land Use and Building Services. At a minimum, the application shall include the following:
A. Name, phone number, email, and mailing address of the landowner;
B. Proof of land ownership;
C. A legal description of the parcels, structures, and facilities proposed to be included in the APA;
D. A map showing the boundaries of the proposed APA;
E. A statement outlining the current contiguous acreages of land, land use, agricultural productivity, and other relevant characteristics of the land to be included in the APA;
F. The number of years the land has been in agricultural or forest production, the types of agricultural or forest commodities produced, and the applicant's plan to continue using the land for agricultural or forest purposes.
G. Three (3) years of tax assessment record.
H. The stated reasons for seeking an APA designation.
I. Soil surveys, water rights, and. any other relevant environmental assessments. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-4: REVIEW PROCESS STANDARDS:
Upon receipt of a completed application, the APA commission shall review the proposal and make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners within sixty (60) days of receiving the application or as required in § 67-9706. The application shall be evaluated on the following criteria:
A. The total contiguous acreage of the land is at least five (5) acres in size and is actively devoted to agricultural or forest production;
B. Adjacence to an existing area of city impact;
C. Possible conflict with existing city annexation or development plans or agreements;
D. Possible conflict with the Blaine County Comprehensive Plan;
E. Proximity to existing public rights of way;
F. Proximity to planned transportation corridors or future public rights of way;
G. Proximity to planned airport expansion or development;
H. Proximity to planned development with existing entitlements;
I. Agricultural production capability of the land within the proposed APA; and
J. Other local impacts relevant to the proposed APA.
K. Preapplication meeting with Blaine County staff.
Notwithstanding the criteria and review process outlined in this code, the Board of County Commissioners may place additional conditions on lands designated as an APA, including, but not limited to, setbacks from existing public rights of way, setbacks from existing public structures, and a review of the land's APA designation after twenty (20) years.
Once the APA commission makes its recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of County Commissioners shall hold a public hearing and issue its decision within sixty (60) days. Failure to make a decision shall render the APA Commission's recommendation final. The Board of County Commissioners decision shall include findings of fact supporting its decision.
Upon making its decision, the Board of County Commissioners shall:
A. Record an ordinance designating the parcel as an Agricultural Protection Area and amending the land use map. The Ordinance shall include a legal description of the area, and any findings of fact with the county recorder within ten (10) days;
B. Notify relevant public officials and agencies of the designation. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-5: EXPANSION OR MODIFICATION OF AN APA:
An expansion, modification, or removal of an existing APA shall follow the same application, review, and hearing procedures outlined in this code. Any expansion of an APA shall be contiguous to the APA. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-6: TERMINATION OF AN APA:
A landowner wishing to terminate an APA must apply to terminate the designation. The request shall be scheduled for a meeting with the board of county commissioners. The application shall include a proof of hardship. Early termination of the APA shall only occur upon the proving by the landowner of an undue hardship as defined in § 67-9703. The landowner seeking to terminate an APA bears the burden of proof in demonstrating the hardship. Early termination of an APA is not taken lightly and will be carefully considered. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-7: ENROLLMENT DURATION AND REVIEW:
Lands designated as an APA will remain so designated for a period of twenty (20) years. A landowner wishing to end an approved APA designation after twenty (20) years must notify the Board of County Commissioners in writing of their desire not to renew the land's APA designation. Failure of the landowner to notify the county more than ninety (90) days prior to renewal, or failure of the county to review the APA terms, will result in the APA designation continuing for another twenty (20) years. The renewal or termination shall be recorded with the County Recorder's Office. Termination shall amend the zoning map. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-8: FEES:
An application fee shall be required to cover administrative costs, including, but not limited to, reviewing materials, conducting public meetings and hearings, processing and recording documents, and updating county land use maps. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)
9-37-9: ENFORCEMENT, PROHIBITIONS, AND PENALTIES:
Unless otherwise approved by the Board of County Commissioners, the following land uses are not allowed within an APA:
A. The siting of large, confined animal feeding operations (CAFO);
B. The siting of residential, commercial, manufacturing, or industrial uses or;
C. Commercial on-site energy production exceeding site specific agricultural needs for distribution or transmission, including, solar, wind energy or other generation sources, distribution infrastructure, or battery storage structures; or
D. Any other nonagricultural land uses.
The Board of County Commissioners or Land Use Administrator shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this ordinance. Any person found to be in violation of this code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable as provided in Section 18-113, Idaho Code. (Ord. 2025-01, 1-14-2025)