Clark County Ag Advisory Commission adopts letter urging no de‑designation of farmland

The Clark County Agricultural Advisory Commission voted Sept. 23 to adopt a comment letter to the County Council asking that no agricultural lands be de‑designated as part of the current comprehensive‑plan update and urging the council to pursue measures to protect farmland.

The commission’s adopted statement—which members agreed to finalize and transmit to the council—recites the commission’s involvement in the county agricultural land study and calls for a mix of protections. Diane Dempster moved to adopt the letter and Isaiah Irish seconded; the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition. "I move that we adopt the letter that Mo has drafted and recommendations to the council," Dempster said during the meeting as the motion was made.

The final paragraph of the drafted letter, read for the record by members, urged the council "to protect farmland today by not ddesating any agricultural lands as part of this comprehensive plan update." Commission members said the recommendation is timed to the County Council public hearing on Oct. 1 and could be supplemented by members speaking in person.

Why it matters: commissioners emphasized farmland’s economic and cultural value and cited recent study findings showing rapid farmland loss. They asked staff to transmit the approved letter into the public record and signaled they will send a commission member to present the comments at the council hearing.

The motion to adopt came after an extended drafting session during which members refined language and debated whether to name specific programs (such as transfer of development rights or a Public Benefit Rating System). The commission approved Isaiah Irish to present the letter at the council hearing.