Orange County NC Website
APPROVED 6/12/17 <br />1 and allow it, and then the County at that point would've been in charge of enforcement. They <br />2 instead took the approach that they wanted all or none, they wanted it turned down, and that left <br />3 them in a position now where they're trying to fight on the grounds of the bona fide farm exemption <br />4 and they're clearly exempt. I'm sorry that the threat of that exemption is so wide, but that's the <br />5 policy of this state. As simply the policy of this state and you must affirm Mr. Harvey's decision. <br />6 <br />7 Karen Barrows: Thank you. <br />8 <br />9 LeAnn Brown: Madame Chair, as the Appellant may I have my rebuttal? I think I'm entitled with the <br />10 party of proof to be last? I'll be very quick. Very quick. <br />11 <br />12 Karen Barrows: We have till 10 o'clock, that's it. <br />13 <br />14 LeAnn Brown: And I promise you I'll be through by 10 o'clock. Number one, Mr. Petesch said that <br />15 there is no authority to look behind the affidavit. The authority to look behind that affidavit starts <br />16 with 160a388, which allows my client to appeal Mr. Harvey's decisions and which requires you to <br />17 take evidence. We went through that process, you took evidence and apparently it made no <br />18 difference whatsoever in his opinion and that's an error. And if you want authority you can start <br />19 there. The cases that have dealt with the farm exemption have all looked at evidence and looked at <br />20 evidence deeper than an affidavit. You can also go there. But the statement to you that there's no <br />21 authority for evidence to be taken is absolutely and patently false, and it starts with 160a388. What <br />22 Mr. Petesch did not argue you to you that I think is very important is he never explained to you how <br />23 this use is in fact related to or incidental to this wedding venue. So we heard a lot of argument <br />24 about that but it was really, there's really nothing there that that answered that question'. The <br />25 Drucker article that you were handed deals with expansion of the farm exception to allow people to <br />26 have multiple tracks has nothing to do with the question before you today. The argument, I don't <br />27 know what to do with the argument that says if the people who opposed the SUP had decided to let <br />28 you grant it with conditions they wouldn't be here today. That's an amazing argument to me. I just <br />29 don't even know where to go with that. They were not required, they were not required to say well <br />30 we're scared you may go some other way, let us go see if we can get you to condition up our SUP. <br />31 They put on evidence as to impact and you decided what that impact meant and you decided it <br />32 was too much, and so I can't do much with that argument, except to say that's ridiculous. I I did not <br />33 say to you, if I did I misspoke but, 160a581.1 was not referenced in the Statute, what I said is that <br />34 that Statute when you read it picks up that concept of incidental use in the definition. 99e, which <br />35 relates to liability is the one that's not incorporated and while you can certainly look at it, it's written <br />36 very broadly because it's designed to address something completely differently. With that being <br />37 said, you have the power and the authority to take evidence. You have to power and authority to <br />38 act on it. You've done it. You remanded it. It didn't work. I'm going to ask you to take what you <br />39 decided before, apply your judgment to the decision, and ask you to reverse Mr. Harvey, and thank <br />40 you. I have three minutes left. <br />41 <br />42 Karen Barrows: Let's go wild. Any questions from the Board for staff or lawyers? Barry? <br />43 <br />44 Barry Katz: My question is to our attorney. We're going to need. I think, possibly, need some <br />45 guidance in how to frame whatever it is that we decide and how to go about this. So, that's just a <br />46 general prayer for some assistance, ok? <br />47 <br />iM <br />