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k.5 6 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIANERS <br />CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL <br />CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN <br />JOINT PLANNING AREA PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 29, 2004 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. D.1. <br />SUBJECT• Agricultural Business Options/Rural Enterprises <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning & Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): 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 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031____ <br />PURPOSE: To receive a brief report on a proposal to allow a greater range of agricultural <br />enterprises in the rural areas, focusing on uses that allow farmers supplemental revenue from <br />agricultural products, businesses that are logical extensions of farm uses, and services related <br />to farming. <br />BACKGROUND: In response to an increasing number of inquiries regarding accessory uses to <br />bona fide farms and related uses that are agricultural in character, Orange County staff have <br />been working together to examine, and where appropriate, revise county regulations regarding <br />farm related uses. Discussion topics have included the following: <br />Evaluating our current permitted land uses and accessory uses for bona fide farms; <br />Identifying uses that are not allowed per our present ordinance but may be appropriate; <br />Considering the needs of smaller operations; <br />Addressing facilities that process andlor sell agricultural products, which may or may not <br />be produced on site; <br />Determining where such special agricultural operations and facilities are best suited, <br />The overall concept is to categorize uses based on their link to an active farm and their land use <br />intensity. Permitting procedures are to be based on the size and scale of the operation, and <br />subject to performance criteria. Since the intent of the project is to facilitate the establishment <br />of agricultural-related businesses the approximate length of the permitting process is shown, <br />with arrows, at the bottom of the chart. <br />Before beginning to prepare actual ordinance amendments, staff would like to provide a status <br />report of the project and receive input from the Town Council andlor Board of Aldermen <br />Ce{ mi4>n:haga~ o Pidnnnig Ui~ J:IYtii'r~^Ny Pniaii He~n~a:ddm ?9 A! 1i4g [iiu Oyiinn: 4_ Iwo Uplirn~s Alr, urn <br />