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

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project. Traditionally, loans ran be difficult to come by and farmers are unlikely to pursue high-risk ventures. If is unlikely that a farmer will pursue a new operation that requires significant up-front costs, without prior market research. It is more likely That a farmer will begin a new operation on a small scale and slowly expand the operation if if appears to be successful, Many new buildings, constructed for farm-related uses can be modified for another use, if needed. Farmers who request fo have their property rezoned fo allow for a rural enterprise, can always apply for another use if they wish to expand or change their operation. Some of these types of questions can be explored and `Meshed out" more fully once amendments are drafted, Whaf would happen fo a successful accessory use if the bona fide farm went out of business? Perhaps that portion of the farm could be subdivided from the larger tract and rezoned to the specific agricultural use following fhe conditional district process, There are different approaches to handling farm uses; the County ma,y wish to approve amendments to begin the rural enterprises initiative, monitor fhe success of the project for a few years and then consider revisions, rather than eliminating options up front. 8. Can the rural enterprises project dovetail with the proposed Transfer of Development (TDR) proposal? The rural enterprises project and the transfer of development proposal are both tools designed fo preserve farming in Orange County, albeit in somewhat different ways. A TDR program is designed to reduce development pressure around a particular area b,y sending development to a target area, which can better accommodate it, It uses development monies to preserve farmland, Depending on the arrangement, the farmer receives trnancial compensation for transferring (selling) his or her development rights, The rural enterprises project, by contrast, is a program designed to keep farming an economically viable business b,y permitting farmers fo explore more innovative farm operations, Staffs proposal fo allow farmers more value-added options planes no long- term obligations on their land. A TDR program is an agricultural land preservation program; the rural enterprises proposal is an agricultural economic development program. While it ma,y be possible to incorporate a TDR program to encourage a farm processing plant in a rural part of the county, for the most part TDRs are designed to keep development activity away from agricultural lands. The two tools work in parallel tracks: a farmer can sell is or her development rights fo a developer through a transfer of development program and then pursue a rural enterprise.