(a) The County Executive must issue regulations under Method 1 to implement this Chapter. (b) The regulations must specify the: (1) method of easement valuation; (2) method of buying easements; (3) terms of payment for easements; and (4) method of ranking offers to purchase easements.

(a) The costs of any agricultural land preservation program, including the purchase of any agricultural easement, may be paid from the Fund and any other appropriated funds. (b) The Office must issue an annual report that identifies the: (1) number and types of agricultural easements bought; (2) number of acres preserved by those easements; and (3) price of each easement.

(a) Any violation of this Chapter or regulations issued under it is a Class A violation. The Department of Permitting Services may issue a citation for any violation of this Chapter or the terms of any agricultural easement. (b) The Office may take legal action, including seeking injunctive or declaratory relief, to prevent any: (1) subdivision of land under an agricultural easement that violates this Chapter or an agricultural easement; or (2) transfer of land, including the transfer of lots to or for the landowner or the landowner’s children, that violates this Chapter or an agricultural easement. (c) The Office may also take legal action to recover any funds obtained from any subdivision or land transfer that violates this Chapter or an agricultural easement, plus costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee. (d) If the creation of an easement under this Chapter conflicts directly with any County law regulating economic activity, noise, or environmental controls, the easement created under this Chapter prevails. (e) If the creation of an easement under any regulation issued under this Chapter conflicts directly with any applicable County regulation on economic activity, noise, or environmental controls, the easement created under this Chapter prevails.