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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />WORKSESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 23, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. D.1 <br />SUBJECT• Rural Enterprises <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning & Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1) Questions & Responses Craig Benedict Planning Director ext. 2592 <br />2) Brief Summary of Conditional District Zoning Dianne Reid EDC Director ext. 2326 <br />3) Next Steps Tina Moon Planner II ext. 2583 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to respond to questions and comments from the <br />February 28, 2005 Joint BOCC/Planning Board Work Session on the Rural Enterprises project <br />and conditional district zoning proposal. <br />BACKGROUND: At the February, 2005 Joint BOCC/Planning Board Work Session, staff <br />provided the Board with an update on the Rural Enterprises project, and introduced the idea of <br />conditional district zoning as a potential mechanism to allow farm-related businesses in the rural <br />part of the county. Members of the Board, Planning Board and public had numerous questions <br />about the proposal with regard to the recommended permitting process, the suitability of farm- <br />related businesses in certain sections of the county and the realistic viability of such businesses <br />in the long-term, <br />The Board asked staff to respond to these questions and others (Attachment #1), while <br />clarifying the overall proposal (Attachment #2). The Board also asked staff to consider <br />modifying the farm use categories to separate less intensive farm ventures from large-scale <br />commercial or industrial uses. <br />Staff seeks permission from the Board to see this project through to completion with <br />amendments to the zoning ordinance and revisions to the Land Use Element where required to <br />establish consistency, We realize, however, that there is no purpose in adopting amendments <br />that do not meet their intent, which in this case is to provide additional opportunities for local <br />farmers and to streamline the process so that the new opportunities can be realized. We <br />request your review of the attached materials and ask for input and permission to move forward. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this discussion. <br />G:1Gurnprehensivu Punning C>iviGH!JE`3gi.~ Public He~rings:PAay 23\Ruril EnLrpris~~s~:Ag°nd2 Abs`rac'. 5-23-O:i doc <br />