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DRAFT 4 center is related to or incidental to such bona fide farm purposes, if any. You also granted a 1 requested stay of the building permit until this issue had been adjudicated by staff. On November 2 the 7th of 2016 we authored a letter to Michael Rettie making the following determination. The first 3 question that was posed to us was, “Is the property a bona fide farm”. As articulated in our letter, 4 which begins on page 167, in utilizing NCGS 152a-340(b), the applicant, in this case Southeast 5 Properties LLC care of Kara Brewer, had submitted documentation outlining the property’s status 6 as a farm, specifically a USDA farm number 3963, which we have attached in the letter as 7 attachment 1, attachment 2, excuse me, the issuance of a farm sales tax exemption by the State 8 Department of Revenue, and a forest management plan. Our conclusion was that the property met 9 three out of the (five) criteria’s defined by the Statute to qualify (the property) as a farm and as 10 such determined it was a farm based on State law. 11 12 Two, “Is the structure being developed on the property being used for bona fide farm purposes?”. 13 As we articulate in the letter, the following facts were available to us: According to the application, 14 again that is CB16-0020, the applicant defined the use of the proposed structure as a barn for 15 agricultural use, including but not limited to the storage and processing of agricultural products and 16 equipment, agro-tourism such as educational workshops, school field trips, weddings, retreats, and 17 farm dinners. Support for all other activities related and incidental to the operation of a farm. Our 18 conclusion, as articulated again in this letter, is that the structure is going to be used for agricultural 19 purposes. 20 21 The next question, “Is the use of the structure as a wedding and event center related or incidental 22 to the property being used for bona fide farm purposes?”. In making a determination County staff 23 relied on the following facts and available information: We first relied on the definition of the term of 24 agricultural, agricultural and farming. As defined by the NCGS 106-581.1 indicating that when 25 conducted on a farm, agro-tourism activities are farming and therefore exempt from review. Agro-26 tourism while being a specifically undefined term within the parameters of the General Statute, 27 specifically section 106-581.1, is defined in several other venues, and I’m on page 170 for those 28 needing to follow along. Staff relied on an existing definition within the UDO, which defines agro-29 tourism as a business directly related or incidental to agricultural activities occurring on the bona 30 fide farm on which it is located and conducted for the enjoyment or education of the public. 31 Definition from Merriam Webster’s dictionary defining agro-tourism as the practice of touring 32 agricultural areas to see farms and often to participate in farm activities. The website, maintained 33 by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, providing examples of agro-tourism activities, the 34 list of which includes wedding venues is a viable agro-tourism activity. And the definition of an 35 agro-tourism activity, as provided under NCGS 99e-30, defining agro-tourism as any activity 36 carried out on a farm or ranch that allows members of the general public for recreation, 37 entertainment, or educational purposes to view or enjoy rural activities including farming, ranching, 38 historic, cultural, harvest your own activities, or natural activities and attractions. An activity is an 39 agro-tourism activity whether or not the participant paid to participate in the activity. Agro-tourism 40 activity includes an activity involving any animal exhibition at an agricultural fair licensed by the 41 commissioner of agriculture pursuant to General Statute 106-520.3. Based on this information it 42 was our determination that the barn structure to be used in support of wedding activities is related 43 and incidental to the property being used for bona fide farm purposes and is consistent with what 44 constitutes farming and agricultural activities as defined within the General Statutes. 45 46