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comments made by these boards have been incorporated into the proposed amendments. Both advisory boards are supportive of moving forward with the ASE program. At the BOCC work session on May 14, 2013, the BOCC asked staff to get input from the advisory boards, especially the Agricultural Preservation Board, on whether removing the more intensive uses from the new conditional zoning district (ASE-CZ) would be acceptable. Both the Agricultural Preservation Board and the ORC are supportive of allowing applicants to apply for as many agriculturally-related uses as possible since the new ASE-CZ enables projects to be considered on a site-specific, case-by-case basis. There is acknowledgement that a project that may not be suitable on a 3-acre parcel immediately adjacent to a residential subdivision may be an appropriate use on a 20-acre parcel with limited neighbors. The new conditional zoning district would give the Board of Commissioners discretion in deciding these types of situations. Information about the ASE program, including the public information meeting, was posted on the Planning Department’s website (http://orangecountync.gov/planning/AgriculturalSupportEnterprises.asp) on January 24, 2014. Public Hearing The proposed UDO amendments were heard at the February 24, 2014 joint public hearing. A summary of comments made at the hearing is included in Section C.1.b of Attachment 1. Procedural Information In accordance with Section 2.8.8 of the Unified Development Ordinance, any evidence not presented at the public hearing must be submitted in writing prior to the Planning Board’s recommendation. Additional oral evidence may be considered by the Planning Board only if it is for the purpose of presenting information also submitted in writing. The public hearing is held open to a date certain for the purpose of the BOCC receiving the Planning Board’s recommendation and any submitted written comments. Planning Director’s Recommendation The Planning Director recommends approval of the proposed Comprehensive Plan and UDO amendments on the basis that these amendments further the following Goals and Objectives of the Comprehensive Plan: Planning Principle #5: Preservation of Rural Land Use Pattern Planning Principle #8: Preservation of Community Character Natural and Cultural Systems Goal 2: Economic viability of agriculture, forestry, and horticulture and their respective lands. Natural and Cultural Systems Goal 3: Infrastructure and support systems for local and regional agriculture. Objective AG-3: Develop programs and associated infrastructure facilities to make local farms more economically viable, including local farm product processing, development of a distribution center, and marketing initiatives. FINANCIAL IMPACT: See Section C.3 in Attachment 1. 40