Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Approved 12/12/16 <br />OC Board of Adjustment – 10/10/16 Page 36 of 113 <br /> <br /> <br />almond trees is when we discovered chestnuts and that was just something that really interested both of 1 <br />us. 2 <br /> 3 <br />Andy Petesch: And were there any other agricultural pursuits that you plan to include in this farm? 4 <br /> 5 <br />Kara Brewer: Yes. Flowers. Starting a flower farm. 6 <br /> 7 <br />Andy Petesch: And so when did you close on the Morrow Mill property? 8 <br /> 9 <br />Kara Brewer: It was at the end of March 2015. 10 <br /> 11 <br />Andy Petesch: And when did you first apply for a farm ID number with the USDA? 12 <br /> 13 <br />Kara Brewer: Right away. So it was the very beginning of April and it did take a couple of weeks for that to 14 <br />come back and so that was issued the beginning of May. 15 <br /> 16 <br />Andy Petesch: Ok. And the reason that you pursued that, could you tell the Board? 17 <br /> 18 <br />Kara Brewer: Sure. There were a couple of reasons. We were starting a farm. Also, it’s helpful for grant 19 <br />purposes and then if I needed a building permit, using the farm number I could have done that as well. 20 <br /> 21 <br />Andy Petesch: And during this time period, which is roughly 2012 to early 2015, were you engaging with 22 <br />the County staff? Having any discussions with them? 23 <br /> 24 <br />Kara Brewer: I was, yes. 25 <br /> 26 <br />Andy Petesch: Could you tell the Board what the nature of those discussions were? 27 <br /> 28 <br />Kara Brewer: Just as I would find a particular piece of property in Orange County that interest me I would 29 <br />contact the staff just to make sure that what I was thinking about using it for would be an allowable use. 30 <br /> 31 <br />Andy Petesch: And what was that, specifically? The allowable use you were looking for. 32 <br /> 33 <br />Kara Brewer: Weddings. 34 <br /> 35 <br />Andy Petesch: And what did you learn in those discussions? 36 <br /> 37 <br />Kara Brewer: It was my understanding that it could essentially happen one of two ways. Through farm use 38 <br />or through a SUP application. 39 <br /> 40 <br />Andy Petesch: And how did you base your decision? 41 <br /> 42 <br />Kara Brewer: I just saw value in the SUP application. We were starting off, we were the ones able to put in 43 <br />infrastructure and put in the planning so we were kind of in the unique position of being in the beginning of 44 <br />everything. So I just saw the value in making sure that what I was doing or trying to do complied with the 45 <br />SUP requirements. 46 <br /> 47 <br />Andy Petesch: And so at this point you had received a USDA Farm ID number? 48 <br /> 49