Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Kara Brewer: Right away. So it was the very beginning of April and it did take a couple of weeks for that to 1 <br />come back and so that was issued the beginning of May. 2 <br /> 3 <br />Andy Petesch: Ok. And the reason that you pursued that, could you tell the Board? 4 <br /> 5 <br />Kara Brewer: Sure. There were a couple of reasons. We were starting a farm. Also, it’s helpful for grant 6 <br />purposes and then if I needed a building permit, using the farm number I could have done that as well. 7 <br /> 8 <br />Andy Petesch: And during this time period, which is roughly 2012 to early 2015, were you engaging with 9 <br />the County staff? Having any discussions with them? 10 <br /> 11 <br />Kara Brewer: I was, yes. 12 <br /> 13 <br />Andy Petesch: Could you tell the Board what the nature of those discussions were? 14 <br /> 15 <br />Kara Brewer: Just as I would find a particular piece of property in Orange County that interest me I would 16 <br />contact the staff just to make sure that what I was thinking about using it for would be an allowable use. 17 <br /> 18 <br />Andy Petesch: And what was that, specifically? The allowable use you were looking for. 19 <br /> 20 <br />Kara Brewer: Weddings. 21 <br /> 22 <br />Andy Petesch: And what did you learn in those discussions? 23 <br /> 24 <br />Kara Brewer: It was my understanding that it could essentially happen one of two ways. Through farm use 25 <br />or through a SUP application. 26 <br /> 27 <br />Andy Petesch: And how did you base your decision? 28 <br /> 29 <br />Kara Brewer: I just saw value in the SUP application. We were starting off, we were the ones able to put in 30 <br />infrastructure and put in the planning so we were kind of in the unique position of being in the beginning of 31 <br />everything. So I just saw the value in making sure that what I was doing or trying to do complied with the 32 <br />SUP requirements. 33 <br /> 34 <br />Andy Petesch: And so at this point you had received a USDA Farm ID number? 35 <br /> 36 <br />Kara Brewer: Yes. 37 <br /> 38 <br />Andy Petesch: And were you in the process of getting any other farm approvals, like a forest management 39 <br />plan? 40 <br /> 41 <br />Kara Brewer: Yes. We did end up getting a forestry management plan in February of 2016 and I also got a 42 <br />Farmer Sales Exemption Certificate that we can buy equipment and we don’t have to pay sales tax. 43 <br /> 44 <br />Andy Petesch: When was that exemption granted? 45 <br /> 46 <br />Kara Brewer: That’s a good question. Maybe in May 2016. April or May of 2016. 47 <br /> 48 <br />39