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Because the UDO has been amended since these comments were made, referenced sections may be slightly off as some portions of the UDO have been <br />renumbered. <br />6 <br />Implementation Bridge - Future Phase Suggestions Planning Staff Comment <br />1. <br />The size of a farm should be considered. Organic farmers, which <br />seem to be the trend, 10 acres in order to be called a farm is a bit <br />large for an organic farm. Considering farm income as a <br />requirement to be a farm is difficult because prices can vary so <br />much from income as a requirement to be a farm is difficult <br />because prices can vary so much from year to year that one year a <br />farmer can produce 300 bushels of corn and hardly breakeven <br />because prices are low and the next year the same farmer can <br />produce 120 bushels and make a lot because prices have gone up <br />substantially. <br />State legislation defines "bonafide farm" and the definition is based on <br />more than just size and/or single year income. <br />2.Agricultural Support Enterprises regulations need to be written. <br />Regulations pertaining to the area of the County's jurisdiction outside of <br />the Rural Buffer were adopted on May 20, 2014. Regulating that apply to <br />areas within the Rural Buffer were adopted on May 5, 2015. <br />3.Incentives for commercial development (expedited processes, <br />etc.). <br />The Economic Development Department has been working on an <br />incentive program. In regards to actual approval processes, Significant <br />amendments pertaining economic development were adopted on <br />February 7, 2012. Staff recommends waiting to re-evaluate the process <br />until after a project has been processed under the revised regulations. <br />4. <br />Focus on the greatest value for the greater good of the entire <br />county with purposeful philosophy and policies to achieve the <br />economic resiliency and community diversity we desperately need <br />and require at this time. <br />5.Examine what our local private businesses need in order to expand <br />and thrive. <br />The Economic Development Department added a Business Retention <br />Economic Developer postion to the department in early 2015. <br />6. <br />Examine why successful businesses left Orange County, such as <br />Smith Breeden, Rho, Contact and BlueCross BlueShield’s <br />expansion, and determine what we need to do to have helped <br />them grow here. <br />The Economic Development Department added a Business Retention <br />Economic Developer postion to the department in early 2015. <br /> 68