Agenda - 05-23-2005-d1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rezonings are legislative decisions, reviewed by governing boards. The application would be considered through a public hearing process, neighbors would receive notice and members of the general public would have an opportunity to comment, If the tract in question were located in a joint planning area, the appropriate governing board(s) would have an opportunity to provide input on the request as welt. 5. How will planning staff ensure that rural enterprises can comply with all other related regulations, such as septic sites, prior to their approval? The rural enterprises project represents the efforts of at least four departments (planning, economic development, soil and water conservation, and cooperative extension) working together to develop a strategy to preserve agriculture in Orange County, The long-term success of this project is dependent on a lasting dialogue between these departments, particularly between the planning department and the local farm agencies, This is a relationship that needs to continue and grow stronger. The procedures outlined in the rural enterprises proposal require applicants pursuing rural enterprises (subject to zoning) fo follow the same review and approval process as applicants pursuing development permits. To ensure that projects can be constructed as designed, planning staff would require the same Level of preliminary approval from other agencies such as Environmental Heath (well and septic) and NCDOT (driveway permits and turn lanes) as it would for development projects. Planning staff would also review projects, to certain degree, with farm agency staff to make sure that proposals comply with all relevant state and federal requirements and would likely request documentation from the appropriate farm agency to this effect. This interactive approach would serve several purposes it would facilitate the planning department's enforcement staff to monitor operations; it would assist planning and economic development staff's efforts to develop a database of value-added farm operations; and perhaps most important, it would improve the relationship between the regulatory branch of county government and the rural community. 6. How would Planning staff monitor these operations and enforce zoning violations? While there would likely be a brief learning curve period, once zoning amendments were adopted and put in place, the zoning enforcement officer would monitor and enforce violations on rural enterprises in the same manner as other development permits. Planning staff would review an existing permit file and determine if the owner was in compliance or not, Planning staff ma,y wish to attach a condition to certain rural enterprise permits that require an annual site visit or an annual report to ensure that farm-related uses continue to meet the conditions of the permit. It may be difficult for planning staff to visit every farm and farm business on a regular basis, but such visits are part of the farm agency staff programs. Zoning enforcement staff could partner with farm agency staff to keep records nn the success of the various farm operations, 7. Is there some way to ensure the long-term success of an agricultural-type business prior to project approval, particularly if the use requires a new building? What happens if the business fails? Can the site be re-used? Farmers across the nation have been looking for ways to diversify and bring in additional income for the last several.years. The permitting procedures outlined in the rural enterprises proposal encourage along-term commitment between planning, economic development, and local farm agency staff to continue to work together to make this initiative successful, Each department has a role to play in the process: planning staff can facilitate the review process but only after economic development and farm agency staff have had an opportunity to work with the applicant to determine the viability of the :clh_i~i b, I'•f{ ~ ~ lu iirr i ii_L1i ~. i.; - i r..i d.,