Orange County NC Website
Draft August 13, 2018 <br />exemption certificate number; the Internal Revenue Service letter issuing an employer identification number; and the 1 <br />plan of merger of Wild Flora Farm, LLC, with Southeast Property Group, LLC. 2 <br /> 3 <br />James Bryan said to apply the principles to the present case, a structure is a bona fide farm purpose if the structure is 4 <br />used for agritourism and the person who owns the property where the structure is located is the same person who 5 <br />holds a qualifying farmer sales tax exemption certificate from the Department of Revenue pursuant to G.S. 105-6 <br />164.13E(a). He thinks there will be three conclusions the board will have to make: 7 <br />#1 Is the structure used for agritourism?8 <br />#2 Who owns the property where the structure is located?9 <br />#3 Does that owner have a certificate from the North Carolina Department of Revenue indicating a farmer sales tax 10 <br />exemption?11 <br />12 <br />James Bryan said when reviewing Michael Harvey’s determination for an appeal, the Board of Adjustment stands in the 13 <br />staff person’s shoes and says this is what should have been done. That decision is made today after evidence is 14 <br />presented.15 <br />16 <br />James Bryan shared a slide repositioning all of the information. He said the current evidence in the agenda packet is 17 <br />the building permit found on Page 19 and the farm plan summary, website, correspondence regarding weddings and 18 <br />educational workshops, social media and other pictures found on Page 26. His slide noted the facts used by staff but 19 <br />James Bryan noted that the board may receive additional evidence this evening or may determine that some of this 20 <br />evidence is not competent, material or substantial. The board will determine its facts. James Bryan then reviewed that 21 <br />the board will have to decide that the structure is used for agritourism or is not used for agritourism.22 <br />23 <br />Barry Katz said it has been his impression that Kara Brewer and her attorney have been arguing that the Unified 24 <br />Development Ordinance is not germane to this and it is essentially a state issue and not a county issue. So, why are we 25 <br />discussing this?26 <br />27 <br />James Bryan answered that the General Assembly has tried to craft what they want for many years. What they drafted 28 <br />here isn’t the clearest but don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. 29 <br />30 <br />Barry Katz said he would like to look at the statute while James Bryan answered. It was noted that the statute starts on 31 <br />Page 92 of the agenda packet. 32 <br />33 <br />James Bryan read this sentence excerpted from the statute and found at the top of Page 92 in the agenda packet: 34 <br />“Failure to maintain the requirements of this subsection for a period of three years after the date the building or 35 <br />structure was originally classified as a bona fide purpose pursuant to this subdivision shall subject the building or 36 <br />structure to applicable zoning and development regulation ordinances adopted by a county pursuant to subsection (a) 37 <br />of this section in effect on the date the property no longer meets the requirements of this subsection.”38 <br />39 <br />James Bryan noted that there is a time limit of three years from the date the building or structure was originally 40 <br />classified as a bona fide farm purpose. If not the county, who makes that classification? The applicant asked the county 41 <br />to make that classification and Michael Harvey made that classification as a bona fide farm purpose. 42 <br />43 <br />Barry Katz asked for confirmation that staff made that classification because the structure is a barn on a property that 44 <br />has an agricultural tax exemption.45 <br />46 <br />James Bryan said anybody can ask for a classification and staff will make that determination if that first sentence is met. 47 <br />48 <br />Barry Katz asked that the property owner does not have to be a farmer to gain that classification.49 <br />50 <br />5