potential for the land to produce food and fiber for
future generations and not infringe upon property
rights.
WVFB supports agriculture representation on
land use planning and subsidiary committees to be
no less than 30% of the membership. Agriculture
representation must be by county resident agriculture
producers. Property owners should have the right
to appeal all decisions of the land use planning and
subsidiary committees. WVFB recommends that
all planning and zoning ordinances be voted on by
referendum during general elections.
FARMLAND PROTECTION
WVFB desires the preservation of agricultural
land for future generations’ production of food and
fiber. WVFB supports changes to the capital gains
and income tax portions of the WV Tax Code,
which will enhance the donation of land. WVFB
believes counties should have the ability to purchase
perpetual easements or long-term leases of the
property’s development rights.
WVFB supports appropriate federal and state
legislative changes to the Farmland Protection
Program to allow a county option for timber
harvesting and the exploration of oil and gas on
protected lands as long as it requires a minimal
footprint or maintains the integrity of the land.
WVFB supports the use of tax revenue generated
from businesses who profit from the exploitation of
land (development of utility rights-of-way, gaming,
hotel/ motel tax and natural resource extraction) to
purchase development rights as perpetual easements
or long-term leases.
CONTROL OF WILDLIFE AND
COMPENSATION FOR WILDLIFE
DAMAGE
Damage by deer and other wildlife has become
a problem throughout our state and the over
population of deer is a serious highway safety
hazard. Coyote, mountain lion, bear, black-headed
vulture and other predatory animals have caused
tremendous economic loss to the livestock industry
in West Virginia. The indiscriminate damage caused
by these animals greatly ^