Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 23, 2004 <br />SUBJECT: Agricultural Business Options /Rural Enterprises <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning & Inspections <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1) Original Chart from May 28, 2002 <br />2) Proposed Land Use Schedule (with <br />permitting process) <br />3) Draft Definitions <br />4) Bona fide Farm Accessory Use Brochure <br />5) Project Time Line <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 1 <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director, ext. 2592 <br />Dianne Reid, EDC Director, ext. 2326 <br />Tina Moon, Planner II, ext. 2583 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732 -8181 <br />968 -4501 <br />688 -7331 <br />336- 227 -2031 <br />PURPOSE: To update the Board on staffs progress on the Agricultural Business Options <br />project, to receive input on the proposed list of uses and related definitions, and to request <br />permission to begin preparing zoning ordinance amendments. <br />BACKGROUND: On May 28, 2002, Planning Staff presented the Board with a proposal to <br />allow a greater range of agricultural enterprises in the rural areas, focusing on uses that offer <br />farmers supplemental revenue from agricultural products, businesses that are logical <br />extensions of farm uses, and services related to farming. The proposal included provisions to <br />link the permitting process to the intensity of the use. <br />Since that information session, an interdepartmental group consisting of Planning, Economic <br />Development, and Farm Agency staff have continued to work on the project (see Attachment 5), <br />meeting with local farmers for feedback and researching other jurisdictions with regulations that <br />speak to agricultural uses. Planning Staff have presented material at Agricultural Preservation <br />Board and Planning Board meetings for comment, as well. Following the original concept, <br />presented in May of 2002 with a simple color progression chart (Attachment 1), the <br />interdepartmental group has assembled a more detailed list of agriculturally -based land uses <br />along with recommended permitting processes (Attachment 2). The group has also developed <br />a series of definitions to clarify these new use categories and associated terminology <br />(Attachment 3). <br />Prior to preparing actual ordinance amendments, staff would like to receive input from the <br />Board regarding the overall concept and the specifics outlined in the proposed land use chart <br />and new definitions (Attachments 2 & 3). Staff would also like to request permission to move <br />forward with actual amendment preparation and receive direction for sending materials to <br />