Agenda - 10-03-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

5 1 economic opportunities for farmers and protecting surrounding areas from the 2 secondary impacts of more commercialized land uses. 3 4 PUBLIC COMMENT: 5 Leslie Weidner is a realtor and resident in Orange County. She read the following 6 comments: 7 Chairman Dorosin and County Commissioners: 8 I've prepared notes to provide brevity to my comments. If I fail to make myself clear, please 9 interrupt me. 10 11 I have tried to read and understand both GS 105-277.3 and Session Law 2017-108 but as a 12 layman I did have difficulty. I used to think I knew what a farm was. 13 14 At this point I'm not sure. But I do think I know what a farm is not. It is not a wedding venue 15 dressed up as a far, 16 17 I enthusiastically support what the State is attempting to do with Agritourism. Helping the 18 farmers with additional income that will enable the farm to work economically is an honorable 19 goal. 20 21 However, I'm hopeful that the law and this committee might help protect us from the bad 22 guys...those who only wish to circumvent zoning and other regulations under the 23 auspices..."this is a farm...you must keep your hands off or we will sue." 24 25 The Board's mission is to serve the residents of Orange County. As a resident, I'm asking for 26 your help to insist that sgritourism is not used as the tool to disrupt my life, and the lifestyle I 27 expected when I moved to Orange County, found my dream house in a peaceful and rural 28 community away from commercial interests. 29 30 A piece of property, not a producing farm, developed with the sole purpose as a wedding venue 31 with parking, bands, and all else that goes on with 200 people partying is not a farm. A sales 32 tax exemption or present use value program does not define a farm in my mind. A farm must 33 produce something, or be the farm-home for someone before agritourism became the cart 34 before the horse. A wedding venue is not a farm...it is a business, and should be subject to 35 business rules, or to business or special use zoning. 36 37 Thank you, 38 Leslie Weidner 39 40 Sandra Beeman said the rural special event permit is a tool for those to hold events that 41 do not fall under the agritourism law, and she thinks the community needs clarification on the 42 definition of a rural special event. She said there could be better communication between the 43 Planning Department and the community about rural special events, the application process, 44 etc. She said the community should be informed of upcoming events of 150 people or more. 45 She said there is some confusion about how many events can be held per year, and what type 46 of events count towards the allotted 12 per year. She asked if the Planning Department 47 monitor these events, and when boundaries are violated. 48 Laura Streitfeld said she is here on behalf of Preserve Rural Orange (PRO), and 49 thanked Representative Meyer for his efforts on this issue. She also thanked the Planning