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Approved 11/14/2011 OC Board of Adjustment – 6/13/2011 Page 3 of 44 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 summarize, is that the agricultural center will not detract from property values in the area. He cites a couple of sales as evidence of that. Also, another opinion from Robert Hartford, who is present that has signed up in case you have questions about that opinion… I would prefer that you address those questions to him rather than to me. I would also like to enter into the record an operation log from the Ag Center from the time it opened until April 15, 2009. Michael Harvey: This will be Exhibit 3. Mike Parker: I realize I am bombarding you with a lot of information but I realize you have a long list of people. It is very important, with this particular document going around now, that you carefully consider the history of the Ag Center, the uses it has been put to. As you recall, I believe all of you were on the Board last fall, basically asking for clarification of the special use permit. At the time, there were complaints about how the facility was used above and beyond the existing permit. This is the history of the use of the center to date. We want you to validate those uses by changing the special use permit so we can do what we have been doing. We feel like there was miscommunication between the planning staff and the center as far as what we plan to use the center for. That led to a more restrictive special use permit that we felt like should have been issued. We really didn’t realize that until the complaints ended up with us back in front of you last October. If you will look at these sheets… these are the quote unquote non-educational uses of the Ag Center on the top sheet. If you look down to the bottom, you will see the total number of rentals since the opening in 2009 of 28. In a period of 50 months, the center was opened in April 2009 with approximately two uses per month of rental uses. The complaints of the music, there was one rental with a band and three events. Basically we have a total of three events that have bands and we have some of those folks to speak tonight about the type of music at those events. We felt those were misrepresented before. Following the top page is basically a list of the groups that use the center from year to year and month to month over the past 50 months. We also have a list of the birthday parties, public school events, the home school groups, the preschool groups… essentially every use that has been made of this facility. We think there are a lot of people that will speak as to what an asset this facility is. I think Allison has some pictures. Allison Nichols: Yes. Mike Parker: I have a series of photographs that we will pass around. They are simply the front of the facility, the side, and the back view of the facility. If you look out from the facility across the pond at the adjoining landowner’s property, this is the view you will see. Some pictures of the outside of the facility. These are essentially the same pictures with some of the wildlife on the pond. They were made within the last few days. I will introduce all those. I feel like I do not have to tell this Board what an asset to the community Bob and Chris Nutter have been over the years. Since we were here before, I will not repeat the speech I gave in October, that I have been singing their praises. Bob Nutter is my father-in-law so I have a special feeling toward him. I am also the attorney for the Orange County Board of Education and at one of the recent Board of Education meetings they were recognized for their contribution for over $100,000.00 for books for the kids in the elementary schools in Orange County. These are good citizens and we just want the facility to be used primarily for non-profit. The Ag Center is organized as a non-profit center and we want to add to the community. One of the complaints I have heard or anticipate to hear is there is other camping and retreat centers in the area. There are not a lot, but I have a feeling if you look at the special use permits for those, you will find they have the same uses listed for them. They are for profit, they do it each and every weekend and we only do it now and then. If possible, I would like to come back later to rebut some of these. Michael Harvey: Mr. Chairman, before we continue, there is an item in the packet I want to call to your attention. It is under a separate cover memo and not considered part of the abstract. It is actually information submitted to us by an adjacent property owner with respect to this application. You will note it was submitted by, prepared by Maple View to the Homeowners Association. Just so the board understands, we provided that documentation because when it was turned in to us, we felt it was part of the public records and we felt you should see it. Staff is not commenting on it. It is not part of the public record until it is made part of the public record. We did provide a copy to the applicant. I want to make sure that you are aware of it and you understand that as it is not part of staff’s official abstract that it has not been included in the record. Tom Brown: Mr. Parker, who will be speaking next on behalf of the applicant? Do you have a list or are you going to open it up? Mike Parker: You just follow your list.