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5 <br /> 1 Representative Insko said they are supportive of on line registration. <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Representative Insko said all of this is in the context that the Republicans have the vote. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Commissioner Rich said is there an update on the 2017 special elections. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Representative Meyer said it is still in the Supreme Court. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 Senator Foushee said they will probably know something in June. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Bona Fide Farm Use- Commissioner Marcoplos <br /> 13 Support legislation clarifying that the farm use and agriculture exemption of 153A-340 that restricts <br /> 14 local zoning authority applies only to property on which the production of crops or livestock is the <br /> 15 primary use. Clarify that marketing and agritourism activities must be secondary uses of the property <br /> 16 and do not qualify for the exemption in the absence of the production of crops or livestock. <br /> 17 Item#24 in the Board of Commissioners' Statewide Issues Resolution <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Commissioner Marcoplos said he is assuming this is happening all over the state and he listed the <br /> 20 reasons to be certified as a bona fide farm. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 Representative Insko said you can have primary uses of farm uses and also have a wedding venue so <br /> 23 how do you determine what is primary. <br /> 24 Commissioner Marcoplos said there is a listing of uses and so this needs to be consistent with their agri- <br /> 25 support initiatives. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 Representative Meyer said this is not an issue all over the state. He said many want to supplement their <br /> 28 farms' income and he said there are two issues: the ability for counties and cities to control zoning in <br /> 29 these areas and also there is the fire code issue. A barn is not set to the same fire codes as a barn being <br /> 30 used for a wedding. The fire marshals are very involved in this issue and they are trying to work with <br /> 31 those involved to work this out. He said the word "primary"is the main word. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Commissioner Marcoplos said they may just have a farm first, and then eclipse with agri-support <br /> 34 enterprises. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 John Roberts said one of the issues is that N.C.'s definition of agritourism is a part of the farm activities <br /> 37 definition and that is the problem of challenging this, <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Representative Meyer said no one is interested in doing a separate bill and when the Farm Act of 2017 <br /> 40 goes through this provision may be added. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Commissioner McKee said this all centers around the urbanization of counties and it is not just around <br /> 43 the Chapel Hill area. There are farms all over the county who have a problem with urban transplants. <br /> 44 This is going to be a continuing issue. <br /> 45 <br /> 46 Representative Meyer said this is going to turn into a property rights issue and will be hard to win in the <br /> 47 legislature. But to add fire codes will restrict who will be able to add these structures to their farms. <br /> 48 <br />