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

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8 1 The 1870 Farm owner has made no attempt to farm his land but does continue to aggressively 2 promote and produce income by hosting parties of all sorts plus children's camps, a daycare 3 business, "school's out" childcare, "farm" tours, gem mining (!), and more. Party tents and a 4 party barn are located approximately 150 yards from our living room where the sounds of 5 partying crowds, amplified music, and fireworks/cannon explosions disturb our peaceful 6 lifestyle. The noise of party set-up, disc jockey voices, booming bass, and screaming 7 partygoers cannot be escaped from our home. On any given day, we have no choice but to 8 listen to gleeful screaming produced by the different groups that are hosted at the "farm". When 9 sitting on our deck it sounds much like we are living in the middle of a public park. And, it is not 10 unusual for visitors to drive or walk onto our property during parties and other gatherings. 11 Unfortunately, the Orange County Noise Ordinance is not meant to regulate the type of ongoing 12 and erratic noises that we endure even though we have tried to get some help by that route. 13 14 We are quiet folks who are committed to being courteous neighbors. My husband and I implore 15 our County Commissioners and Planning/Zoning staff to support us, and others whose lifestyles 16 and investments are threatened by Party Barns, by enforcing zoning and environmental 17 ordinances for non-farm property uses. Farm numbers were meant to help real farmers not 18 businesses such as 1870 "Farm" which operate in neighborhoods where peace, quiet, and 19 property values are being compromised. 20 21 We request that you respond and let us know what options are available to our neighbors and 22 to us. It is our hope that County Officials will view the problem of Party Barns impacting the lives 23 of unsuspecting citizens as one that must be resolved in favor of the neighbors. This problem is 24 not going away since farm numbers can be acquired outside of the County governance but, so 25 far, are honored by the County to support fake farms. Please consider inspections of Orange 26 County agri-tourism farms to confirm that the agri-tourism portion is a supplement to actual 27 farming. Then, follow up by shutting down such businesses that do not fit that definition. 28 29 Hopefully, 30 Dianne and Richard Lawrence 31 32 Commissioner McKee said he heard two repeated questions: define what an event is, 33 and what events count toward the allowable 12 events per year for the rural special event 34 designation. 35 Commissioner McKee said he would like to know how the number of people at these 36 events is monitored, and how to make sure that an event is following its application. 37 Chair Dorosin listed the questions to which he would like further information: 38 • Rural special event: what qualifies; what notification is given to neighbors and when; 39 how events are monitored events; the 12 events, and can events be spaced out. 40 • Enforcement and violation consequences 41 • What parameters can they put on the # of people, and what kind of authority do they 42 have to put parameters around events and times. 43 • Noise ordinance- work session on this and get information from Sheriff about this and 44 how they monitored and measured; and practice when complaint is received and 45 cumulative reporting. 46 • Fire Safety- get more information from Fire Marshal 47 48 Commissioner Jacobs asked John Roberts if the Sheriff can require a deputy to attend 49 events of a certain size.