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