1-3-24 PB Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

In allowing us space to sort and stage saw logs from locally removed trees, the County would also be enabling us to work with and support local sawmills. These sawmills, and the wood salvaged from the trees that we selectively remove locally, are a part of our local agriculture. They are aptly described by this observation in the County’s Comprehensive Plan: Another key trend has been a set of changes in the agricultural industry: first with the emergence of agri-business making it increasingly difficult for local farms to compete in national markets; and second, a growing interest in Orange County in consuming locally grown products that can offer strategic opportunities for local agriculture. p. 3-16 We would be helping the County achieve the following. ●Objective ED 4.4: Enhance rural and agricultural community character by supporting local agriculture markets, supporting complementary conservation and management tools, and considering tools to make farming more profitable. ●Natural and Cultural Systems Goal 2: Economic viability of agriculture, forestry, and horticulture and their respective lands. ●Natural and Cultural Systems Goal 3: Infrastructure and support systems for local and regional agriculture. ●Objective AG-2: Pursue new measures (some of which may require special legislation) to make farming more profitable, such as additional programs for tax assistance. ●Objective AG-3: Develop programs and associated infrastructure facilities to make local farms more economically viable, including local farm product processing, development of a distribution center, and marketing initiatives. 3. Lowering Costs of Tree Ownership “Tree equity” refers to the idea that lower-income neighborhoods should receive the same benefits of trees and canopy coverage as their higher-income counterparts. The rule, however, is often tree inequity. 6 Since the cost of caring for and accommodating mature, large trees is often prohibitive for lower-income neighborhoods, canopy coverage becomes an impractical luxury. Dead limbs appear even in healthy trees, creating hazards over houses, patios, and cars. Mitigating even these routine tree hazards often requires the costly services of a specialist. Tree costs become exceedingly high and unpredictable if a large tree should suddenly die or begin to fail. Thus, several researchers have concluded that “[d]ue to the costs incurred it would not be 6 New York Times, 2021.“Since When Have Trees Existed Only for Rich Americans?”; Scientific American, 2021.“Trees Are Missing in Low-Income Neighborhoods”; Pew Charitable Trusts, 2021. “Trees: The Critical Infrastructure Low-Income Neighbors Lack”; Nature Conservancy, 2021.“Mapping Tree Inequality: Why Many People Don’t Benefit from Tree Cover”. 6 23