HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-15-2009 - Information Item 2~ I'1-~'or n'1 a'f'" ~ ~n Z~-e. rr1
ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT
Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director
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Administration ~~ * ~ °s 306E Revere Road
(919) 245-2575 it ~ P O Box 8181
(919) 644-3002 (Fax) ~,~ Hillsborough,
vwvw.co.orange.nc.us '~°!!h ~a~~~~"° North Carolina, 27278
Memo
ro: Board of County Commissioners
Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager
From: Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Planning Director
Date: December 15, 2009
Re: Agricultural Support Enterprises -History & Status
This memorandum is provided to briefly outline the history and status of the Agricultural Support
Enterprises (ASE) program.
The Agricultural Support Enterprises (ASE) program has been in development since 2001 and has
been known by many terms. This was originally an initiative of Economic Development and ERCD
with the County Attomey. Despite its many names and iterations, the intent of the program has
remained consistent - to provide more agricultural business options for Orange County farmers. The
attached chart, which has been presented to the BOCC at previous meetings, shows the general
structure and objective of the program.
The program migrated to Planning as implementation and intergovernmental coordination was
necessary. On October 14, 2008 Orange County Planning staff provided an update on the
Agricultural Support Enterprises project to then County Manager Laura Blackmon. At that time, staff
was finalizing the draft of the Zoning Ordinance amendments and ASE Manual, as directed, for
presentation to the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Board at the February 2009
Quarterly Public Hearing. The zoning amendments proposed included the new Conditional Zoning
construct, an essential component of the Agricultural Support Enterprises program. After further
discussions with staff and then County Attorney Geof Gledhill, it was determined that the new
Conditional Zoning construct would be brought forward at the February 2009 Quarterly Public
Hearing independent of the many Zoning Ordinance amendments proposed for the Agricultural
Support Enterprises program. Conditional Zoning was to be heard at the February 2009 Quarterly
Public Hearing and Agricultural Support Enterprises would be presented at the subsequent Quarterly
Public Hearing.
In January 2009 Planning staff received notice from then County Attorney Geof Gledhill's staff that
the Zoning Ordinance amendments proposed for presentation at the February 2009 Quarterly Public
Hearing would not be included on the Quarterly Public Hearing agenda. Legal staff recommended
C:\Documents and Settings\mallison\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK108\ASE memo 113009.doc
the Conditional Zoning construct be included in the forthcoming Unified Development Ordinance
(UDO), rather than creating the new construct within the existing Zoning Ordinance.
The Conditional Zoning construct is an essential component of the Agricultural Support
Enterprises program. Following the approval of this new construct, the largely complete
ordinance amendments necessary for the ASE program can be adjusted to fit in the new UDO
and brought forward for consideration.
If you would like any additional information, please contact Shannon Berry, Special Projects
Planner, or myself.
C:\Documents and Settings\mallison\I,ocal Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK108\ASE memo 113009.doc
NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY -Rural Enterprises
Proposed Use Categories and Permitting Requirements based on Intensity
^ Pick-your-own fruits &
vegetables
^ Retail sales for site
grown products
^ Small-scale processing
for site grown
products
^ Agricultural tourism
for site grown
products:
corn mazes, hay rides
Exempt
^ Cooperative farm
stand
^ Cooperative or
teaching farm w/
communal facilities
^ Year-round
agricultural tourism
^ Rural special events
^ Off-season use of farm
equipment
Modified Site Plan
2-4 Weeks
^ Retail garden center
^ Country store
^ Mobile veterinarian
services
^ Farm machinery repair
^ Feed mill, seed
storage, retail sales,
farm supply
^ Rural heritage
museum
^ Community farmers
market
^ Winery/brewery w/
minor events
^ Small-scale butchering
operation
^ Retail garden center
^ Farm machinery repair
^ Feed mill, seed
storage, retail sales,
farm supply
^ Veterinarian services
^ Composting w/ or
w/out grinding
^ Livestock market,
exchange/auction
facility
^ Cold storage facilities
^ Large-scale processing
facility
^ Winery/brewery w/
major events
Site Plan
1-2 Months
Class B Special Use Permit
2-3 Months
Rezoning/Site Plan
Quarterly Public Hearing
9-12 Months