Orange County NC Website
3 (1 9 <br />NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR RURAL ECONOMY <br />Three-part approach <br />1. Evaluate agricultural - related land uses in our existing ordinance (Matrix) <br />• Consider need, location, and permitting process <br />• Combine similar uses into categories to allow for future (unforeseen) uses <br />■ Consider changing name of the existing "agricultural service" floating zone to <br />'agricultural industrial" and create new agricultural service category to address <br />services for farmers (i.e. veterinarians, farm machinery repair) <br />• Better advertise the potential for these uses <br />• Improve interdepartmental cooperation to ease permitting process <br />2. Streamline the bonafide farm accessory use process (Brochure) <br />3. Consider new options for small and medium scale operations that are <br />agricultural in character not directly linked to a specific farm, or are cooperatives <br />(Matrix) <br />• Identify potential uses <br />• Create permitting procedures based on the intensity of the use, subject to performance <br />standards <br />Progress Report & Next Steps <br />✓ Interdepartmental group develops brochure showing new approach for processing bonafide <br />farm accessory uses. (Completed February 2002.) <br />✓ Interdepartmental agricultural business group discusses ways to support our rural economy. <br />(Completed spring 2002.) <br />✓ Agricultural Economic Developer prepares "wish list" for agricultural operations. (Completed <br />spring 2002.) <br />• Planning staff prepares matrix showing existing land uses linked to agriculture. (Completed <br />spring 2002.) <br />• Planning staff develops new land use categories based on "wish list" and places them in <br />matrix as proposed uses. (Completed spring 2002.) <br />✓ Ag business group presents materials to BOCC for comments and direction. (May 28, 2002 <br />worksession.) <br />1. Ag business group discusses BOCC comments and revises materials as appropriate. <br />2. Agricultural Preservation Board and Planning Board reviews proposed agricultural uses and <br />potential links to zoning ordinance. <br />3. Ag business group meets with existing local agri- business owners to discuss proposals. <br />4. Ag business group submits status report to BOCC and revises materials as appropriate. <br />5. Planning Department prepares amendments to County regulations. <br />