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C. Agricultural Business Options Previously a new approach for establishing farm - related business operations was presented to the APB. The concept is to upgrade the permitting process to better address the needs of our rural community. It consists of these key elements: (1) streamlining the bonafide farm accessory use process, (2) reviewing the agricultural- related land uses in our existing ordinance, (3) considering new options for small and medium size operations, and /or operations that are agricultural in character but not directly linked to a specific farm, or are cooperatives, (4) combining similar uses into categories to allow for future uses, and (5) creating permitting procedures based on the intensity of the use, subject to performance standards. Moon reviewed a chart showing an overview of the proposal. Uses are categorized based on the strength of their link to agriculture and their land use intensity, and assigned permitting procedures accordingly. The Agricultural Business Options Matrix laid out the proposal within the framework of the existing regulations. Existing land uses and new uses are shown in different colors. The columns indicate the zoning districts where the land uses would be permitted, the permitting process and if the use is existing or proposed. Moon explained the approval process of the different special use permits and site plans. Moon asked the members for feedback on performance standards or other suggestions and noted that once the APB input is incorporated into the proposal staff will arrange a meeting with members of the community who have either established a successful farm - related business or are interested in pursuing one. After the community meeting, staff will incorporated comments and other new ideas into the proposal and begin to draft amendments to the ordinance. APB members noted that there needs to be clear definition of a bonafide farm. They also agreed that the determination of whether a farm is bonafide or not should be decided by farm service agencies prior to a permitting request being submitted to the Planning Department. Other ideas and comments: ➢ Government should defend farmers rights ➢ Don't add burden on farmers for unnecessary permits ➢ How can the current land use permitting fees be adjusted to promote this proposed process instead of becoming more of a burden to small farmers? ➢ Should site plan really be needed for a tomato stand on a farm? ➢ Establish a way for zoning complaints to be handled without requiring farmers to get a land use.permit to sell produce. ➢ Adjust the zoning ordinance so that farming operations would be allowed multipurpose uses without having to subdivide. ➢ A farmer should have the right to use his land to make a living in a traditional or non - traditional farming method. DRAFT