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y <br /> v <br /> 129 <br /> dedication/payment-in-lieu provision adopted as <br /> part of the Master Recreation Plan and that the <br /> Commissioners have been discussing reworking <br /> this. It is a real goal of the Planning <br /> Department for acquisition and development of <br /> park sites. Collins noted that he almost felt as <br /> if we were "shooting ourselves in the foot" by <br /> not allowing the public parks to count toward the <br /> open space requirement particularly when the <br /> property is dedicated to the County. He noted <br /> also that Arendt, in his presentation, had talked <br /> about playing fields being considered open space. <br /> After hearing that presentation, he questioned <br /> whether or not the Board might have any change of <br /> opinion about the 50% limit. Collins asked if <br /> golf courses was the only active recreation that <br /> the Board wanted to apply the 50% limit to and/or <br /> if this was something the Board would rather deal <br /> with at a later time. <br /> Katz asked for clarification why golf courses <br /> wouldn't count and active agriculture does. <br /> Collins responded that the golf course issue was <br /> a result of the University Station proposal. The <br /> concern was the environmental damage that golf <br /> courses do. Yet, golf courses do satisfy certain <br /> open space needs. He noted that Arendt had stated <br /> in his presentation that a high percentage of <br /> people who live in golf course developments do so <br /> because of the open space rather than the golf <br /> course itself. He continued that golf courses <br /> have become the center of attention because of <br /> the pesticides, fertilizers, etc. used to <br /> maintain them and the environmental damage from <br /> those materials. He noted that extensive studies <br /> have been done and efforts are being made to <br /> address those concerns by professional golfers <br /> associations and golf course developers <br /> nationwide. <br /> Katz asked where agriculture fits. Collins <br /> responded that agriculture has not been viewed in <br /> the same light, even though farm uses such as <br /> pesticides and fertilizers are used. He indicated <br /> that information presented at public hearing <br /> stated that use of those products was much more <br /> intent on golf courses. Katz responded that would <br /> depend on the crop. <br /> Hoecke stated that there is no single <br /> agricultural use in the United States, outside of <br /> some very, very susceptible specialty crop that <br /> sees as intensive use of pesticides as golf <br /> courses. He continued that the only other <br />