Agenda - 04-15-2014 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 Ordinance Amendments of the Unified Development Ordinance, the Planning Director has initiated an amendment to the text of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and the Unified Development Ordinance and to the Zoning Atlas. The purpose of these amendments is to establish a zoning program commonly referred to as Agricultural Support Enterprises (ASE). This text amendment would establish the ASE program within the Rural Buffer land use classification, as depicted on the Future Land Use Map of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. In the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, the Land Use and Zoning Matrix contained in Appendix F is proposed to be amended by adding a checkmark to potentially allow the ASE-CZ zoning district in the Rural Buffer land use classification. The following Sections of the UDO are proposed for amendment: 3.8 and several sections in Article 5, including the Table of Permitted Uses and Sections that are not currently adopted but would be adopted as part of"ASE outside of the Rural Buffer" (item #6 above). The purpose of the Agricultural Support Enterprises program, as it applies to the Rural Buffer land use classification, is to accommodate appropriate uses farmers can pursue in order to generate additional farm-related income and to potentially allow appropriate farming support/related uses in the Rural Buffer while minimizing any adverse impacts on adjoining property by applying special standards for specific uses and the development requirements in the County's UDO for all projects. Examples of the most intensive uses include Agricultural Processing Facility, Farm Equipment Rental/ Sales and Service, Meat Processing Facility, Stockyards/ Livestock Markets, Winery with Major Events (more than 150 people). Examples of the least intensive uses include Community Farmers Market, Cooperative Farm Stand, Rural Special Events (150 people or less), Veterinary Clinic, Winery with Minor Events (150 people or less). Projects in the Rural Buffer must also conform to the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan/Agreement which is a joint planning effort between Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. By better enabling farmers to stay in the business of farming, the rural, farming heritage of Orange County will continue to be preserved. Additional information about this topic is available on the Planning Department's website at: http:/Iorangecountyne.gov/planning/SpecialProiects.asp Purpose: To review the item and receive public comment on the proposed text amendments.