Agenda - 11-21-2013 - 5 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 the time the agreement was established, "Agriculture," as a type of use, was folded in to the Rural Buffer land use category. The area that comprises the Rural Buffer is under Orange County's planning and zoning jurisdiction and the joint planning agreement provides for courtesy review by the Towns of development projects within the Rural Buffer and of regulatory text amendments that affect the Rural Buffer. The agreement provides that Orange County will not adopt proposed amendments until the expiration of thirty (30) days following referral of the amendment to the Towns. While the JPA land use plan does not contemplate additional non - residential uses in the Rural Buffer, the three partner jurisdictions may wish to discuss the desirability of potentially allowing agriculturally - related, non - residential uses to either be allowed outright (for some uses) or considered for approval as a conditional zoning district application. There are a number of farms located in the Rural Buffer that could benefit from being able to augment farm income with certain farm - related activities that are not considered "bona fide farm" activities. Additionally, since the Rural Buffer is located in and adjacent to much of the population of Orange County, farms have a unique opportunity to provide certain amenities that could help them keep farming. An example is the Maple View Farms ice cream shop on Dairyland Road which is quite popular with Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and other County residents. When County staff discussed the ASE project with the BOCC at its May 14, 2013 work session, BOCC members suggested that the topic be part of the November 2013 Assembly of Governments meeting so that elected officials could provide feedback regarding accommodating appropriate ASE uses in the Rural Buffer. Feedback received could help shape the materials brought forward for formal public hearing in February 2014. Explanation of Attachments Attachment A contains a list of new uses that would be applicable to the RB (Rural Buffer) general use zoning district as well as a list of uses proposed for a new conditional zoning district (ASE -CZ). Please see Attachment B for information about the differences between a general use zoning district and a conditional zoning district. In an effort to minimize the number of attachment pages, Attachment C contains only the most pertinent pages of the draft amendment packet to facilitate discussion related to the Rural Buffer. Status of Draft Amendments The draft UDO amendments, are also currently being reviewed by the County's Planning Board and Agricultural Preservation Board. These two advisory boards are being educated as to the content of the amendments and providing input that may shape the amendments that will go forward to public hearing in February. An example of the input is the likely result to remove the more intensive uses from consideration as an ASE -CZ for properties located in the Rural Buffer (these are the uses shown in red text in Attachment A). The entire draft amendment packet, excepting the text changes that would remove the more intensive uses from consideration as an ASE -CZ in the Rural Buffer, can be viewed at: http: / /orangecountync.gov /planning/ documents /ORCPacketNov20l3- web.pdf. The necessary changes to remove the more intensive uses will be made after advisory board input and discussion at the AOG meeting becomes official.