Scoring Values for Farmland Preservation Program Projects.

The Commissioner shall use the following scoring values when considering applications for inclusion in the farmland preservation program. A minimum total score of 65 points from subsections (a) to (j), inclusive, of this section is required for any further consideration by the Commissioner. PROBABILITY OF LAND BEING SOLD FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES (The combined point totals of subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this section shall not exceed 20 points.) (a) Municipal population change occurring over the previous ten years (maximum of 5 points allowed in this subsection): none or decrease 0 points 0.01 – 0.99% increase 1 point 1.00 – 1.99% increase 2 points 2.00 – 2.99% increase 3 points 3.00 – 4.99% increase 4 points 5.00% or greater 5 points (b) Amount of farmland or open space converted to non-agricultural uses within the municipality over the previous five years (per property sales and changes to land designation under sections 12-107a to 12-107f, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, from a municipal tax assessor) (maximum of 5 points allowed in this subsection): none 0 points 0.01 – 49.99 acres 1 point 50 – 99.99 acres 2 points 100 – 149.99 acres 3 points 150 – 199.99 acres 4 points 200 acres or more 5 points (c) Amount of cumulative road frontage, according to municipal tax assessment, or municipal or regional council of government assessment of potential interior road frontage, based on current zoning (maximum of 5 points allowed in this subsection): 0 – 149.99 feet 0 points 150 – 299.99 feet 1 point 300 – 449.99 feet 2 points 450 – 599.99 feet 3 points 600 – 749.99 feet 4 points 750 feet or more 5 points (d) Estate planning, farm business planning, existing leases (Only one selection possible. Maximum of 10 points allowed in this subsection): (1) Offered farmland is being farmed by the owner with an existing farm business plan (10 points) (2) Existing estate planning or settlement directing assets to the next generation of farmers (10 points) (3) Owner actively seeking a farmer as a buyer through Connecticut Farmlink, or will be selling to current farm lessee (10 points) (4) Offered farmland is subject to a written lease held by an agricultural producer for at least five years (7 points) (5) Offered farmland is subject to a written lease held by an agricultural producer for a duration of one year to four years eleven months (4 points) CURRENT PRODUCTIVITY AND LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUED PRODUCTIVITY FOR AGRICULTURE, MITIGATION OF FLOOD HAZARDS (Maximum of 20 combined points allowed in subsections (e) and (f) of this section.) (e) Method of marketing the agricultural products produced on the farmland (maximum of 10 points allowed in this subsection): (1) Regular agricultural cooperative, farm-to-school, or farm-to-institution contract (10 points) (2) Offered farmland acreage part of community-supported-agriculture (CSA) operation (10 points) (3) On-farm store or farm stand sales (10 points) (4) Consumer “pick-your-own” operation on the offered farmland (10 points) (5) Agricultural producers sell agricultural products at off-site farmers market(s) (8 points) (6) Delivery or distribution of agricultural products produced on the offered farmland (8 points) (f) Active farmland within a five-mile radius and the existence of flood hazard mitigation (maximum of 10 points allowed in this subsection): Less than 200 acres 0 points 200 - 299.99 acres 2 points 300 – 499.99 acres 4 points 500 – 799.99 acres 6 points 800 – 999.99 acres 8 points 1000 acres or more 10 points the land consists of floodplain with significant flood storage capacity 5 points CONTRIBUTION TO STATE’S AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION POTENTIAL, AND SOIL CLASSIFICATION (subsections (g) to (i), inclusive, of this section) (g) Total cropland offered (maximum of 20 points allowed in this subsection): 0 – 4.99 acres 0 points 5 – 9.99 acres 4 points 10 – 19.99 acres 8 points 20 – 29.99 acres 12 points 30 – 39.99 acres 16 points 40 acres or more 20 points (h) Quantity of farmland offered that is classified as prime farmland or statewide important or locally important farmland soils (maximum of 20 points allowed in this subsection): less than 10 acres 0 points 10 – 19.99 acres 4 points 20 – 29.99 acres 8 points 30 – 39.99 acres 12 points 40 – 49.99 acres 16 points 50 acres or more 20 points (i) Percentage of cropland in application that contains prime farmland or statewide important or locally important farmland soils (maximum of 10 points allowed in this subsection): Less than 20% 0 points 20 – 34.99% 2 points 35 – 49.99% 4 points 50 – 64.99% 6 points 65 – 79.99% 8 points 80% or more 10 points COST OF ACQUIRING SUCH RIGHTS (subsection (j) of this section) (j) Cost-share contributions towards the purchase of development rights (maximum of 15 points allowed in this subsection): (1) The offered farmland meets the criteria for the USDA farmland preservation funding program, or other equivalent federal cost-share program (10 points) (2) The offered farmland has a project partner providing a cost-share contribution to the project (5 points)