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115 <br /> Lee Rafalow, from the audience, commented on two <br /> items that have been discussed for several years . <br /> He stated that he felt the Board should have <br /> figured out the goals and how to achieve them <br /> before making a decision. The County had brought <br /> in an expert who stated that a 50% minimum open <br /> space is required if the goal is to preserve <br /> rural character and the unbuildable land should <br /> be set aside before making the 50a calculation. <br /> As a result, you will find the opportunity to <br /> have farmland intermixed with developed spaces <br /> goes away. This cannot be accomplished with 33% <br /> open space. He referred to a seventeen-acre tract <br /> in his area that contained cattle noting that the <br /> owner of the cattle was not a farmer and did not <br /> depend on farming for his primary income . This <br /> was a good example of intermixing farmland and <br /> developed spaces, yet retaining a rural <br /> character. <br /> Mr. Rafalow continued, the TDR program is a <br /> program that is going to increase density in the <br /> County because land that will never be built upon <br /> because it is unbuildable will be purchased and <br /> development rights transferred somewhere else in <br /> the county where land is buildable. This is not <br /> the definition of rural character. <br /> Walters commented on the reference Mr. Rafalow <br /> made to the tract of land with cattle in his <br /> area. She reported on the destruction of fences, <br /> cattle being herded out of pastures by dogs, <br /> horses traveling through wet fields, and farms <br /> animals mangled just within a three week period. <br /> She continued that the small parcels of farmland <br /> referenced by Mr. Rafalow do not work well with <br /> farmers, and farmers eventually give up on them. <br /> The people riding the horses through wet, muddy <br /> fields should have known better. This is one of <br /> the type of situations that is presently causing <br /> so many problems for farmers. <br /> Price stated that she felt the Flexible <br /> Development proposal is more reactionary and <br /> needs to be more pro-active by getting more land <br /> use tools in place that will help farmers . She <br /> felt that placing a subdivision next door to a <br /> farm is the worst thing that could be done. She <br /> felt that regulations, whether or not they be <br /> zoning, could be put in place to help save the <br /> farmland. <br /> Jobsis stated that she felt many Board members <br /> would like to provide some help for the farmers . <br />