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117 <br />ATTACHMENT 1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />WORKSESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 28, 2002 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Agri- business <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning & Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1) Approach /Status Report Craig Benedict Planning Director ext. 2592 <br />2) Bonafide Farm Accessory Use Brochure Dianne Reid EDC Director ext. 2326 <br />3) Classifying Agri- business based on intensity Tina Moon Planner II ext. 2583 <br />4) Existing /Proposed Use Matrix <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732 -8181 <br />968-4501 <br />688 -7331 <br />336 - 227 -2031 <br />PURPOSE: To receive input from the Board on ways to facilitate agri- business in the county. <br />BACKGROUND: Agri- businesses are becoming an increasingly important component to the <br />survival of our local farming community. A `Reba and Roses' application for SUP extension of their <br />history property /non residential use this February brought forth the need to reexamine the existing <br />zoning categories that do not easily comport to today's hybrid business activities. In an effort to <br />better accommodate agri- business and other non - traditional forms of agriculture Planning, Economic <br />Development, and Farm Agency staff have been working together to examine, and where <br />appropriate, revise county regulations regarding farm related uses. Discussion topics have included <br />the following: <br />• Developing a more straightforward and defendable definition of bonafide farm <br />• Evaluating our current permitted land uses and accessory uses for bonafide farms <br />• Identifying uses that are not allowed per our present ordinance but may be appropriate <br />• Considering the needs of smaller operations -5 -20 acres in size <br />• Addressing facilities that process and /or sell agricultural products, which may or may not be <br />produced on site <br />• Allowing operations which are agricultural in character but not true agriculture <br />• Determining where such special agricultural operations and facilities are best suited. <br />Planning staff is preparing a matrix to show permitted land uses linked to agriculture and uses <br />accessory to bonafide farms. The matrix should serve as a starting point to identify gaps. The next <br />step would be to determine how best to fill those gaps within the context of our existing policies and <br />regulations. Since the May Quarterly Public Hearing has a short agenda there may be the time for a <br />possible work session with the Board to review the group's progress and ask for direction regarding <br />this important topic. <br />GAComprehensive Planning Div \TMoon \Planning \Ag Business\ 5- 2002WorksessionAbstract.dot1 <br />