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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPB minutes 052015ORANGE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING SUMMARY--APPROVED May 20th, 2015 Environment & Agricultural Center – Conference Room 306 Revere Road, Hillsborough, NC 7:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Vaughn Compton, Howard McAdams, Renee McPherson (Chair), Ashley Parker, Noah Ranells, Joe Thompson, Richal Vanhook, and Kim Woods (Vice-Chair) MEMBERS ABSENT/EXCUSED: Amanda Scherle (excused) GUESTS: Mike Ortosky STAFF: David Stancil, Director, DEAPR and Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources Coordinator, DEAPR 1. Call to Order: Chair McPherson called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM. 2. Vice-Chair Comments: None 3. Consideration of Additions to Agenda: No additions 4. Meeting Summary / Minutes – March 18th, 2015 (Attachment 1): Woods moved to accept the minutes/summary; seconded by Compton; motion carried. 5. Introduction of Guest: Chair McPherson and David Stancil introduced Mike Ortosky, Agriculture Economic Development Coordinator. Mr. Ortosky provided members with a detailed PowerPoint program outlining new approaches for creating economic development opportunities around agriculture and food systems. He articulated main goals, such as bringing in new ag-related businesses from outside the county as well as providing incentives and support for existing local entrepreneurs and locally incubated businesses. He sees a need to create and publicize an attractive environment in Orange County for residents, producers, businesses, and agribusinesses, to allow the county to become a regional leader in ag and food system development. The challenge is to fully support all aspects of the existing food system and existing growers while generating new growers and producers. We need to facilitate the local consumption of locally produced food. A main focus will be on attracting and growing businesses that can generate/aggregate that other 80% of the value-added component of the ag markets. This could be accomplished via “innovation clusters” and the Triangle region seems like an ideal place for this to happen. He sees an opportunity to design/implement a food overlay ATTACHMENT 1 2 district for one of our three economic development districts, perhaps something like a food hub/campus developed in the county, and brand/market that campus. He envisions a role for the Breeze Farm, possibly through the County leasing the facility from the state. A new/updated master plan needs to be developed for this facility. His presentation was followed by a question/answer discussion session. Members expressed their desire to be included in the planning process for the various new ag economic development projects, ideally with good communication. The farmers here on the Ag Board are a resource that can provide a level of grounding, a way to apply real- world knowledge to new ideas now being generated. They want to be involved and included in the process. Mike has kindly agreed to attend the Ag Board meetings on regular basis, which will help. Stancil suggested that the board might want to schedule some time soon to review their charge and the Farmland Preservation Plan, and come up a list of topics where they want to focus their energy; the APB is the only official board charged by the BOCC to advise on agricultural matters. Discussion included the topic of how much the County is spending now on food (around $400k between the jail and senior/nutrition programs). We need an aggregator to build up a system to build up a steady/adequate supply of local food for this market. Are local entities doing everything they can to buy local, for example, the salad bar at Weaver St? What happens if buyers for restaurants move from small farmer’s markets to a larger aggregator/supply facility? Regarding the new Ag Economic Development Grant review process: they ex pect four or five grant applications; the review committee will meet in June. Two committee members are also members of the Ag Board, so they can report back at the next regular meeting. 6. Items for Decision: (a): New VAD and EVAD applications: (Attachment 2): Hughes had to be absent for this meeting, so Sandbeck presented five new applications, below. All of these applications have been reviewed by staff and meet all the criteria and requirements for APB consideration for the VAD and EVAD programs. Richal M. & Savannah J. Vanhook: 76.32 acres for EVAD: (Caldwell District): Farm located on Walnut Grove Church Rd. Hay, pasture, and woodland. Parker moved to approve; seconded by Woods; motion carried. Vanhook abstained. Willie &Hattie Vanhook: 84.01 acres for EVAD: (Cedar Grove District) Farm located on Olin Road. Hay, pasture and woodland. Parker moved to approve; seconded by Thompson; motion carried. Vanhook abstained. Lewis D. & Charlene Summers: 121 acres for EVAD (Cedar Grove District) Farm located on Carr Store Rd. Corn, small grain, hay and woodland/forestry. Parcel is upstream of Hillsborough water supply. Woods moved to approve; seconded by Ranells; motion carried. 3 Teer Farm Inc. – Mike Teer: 343.09 acres for VAD (Cane Creek/Buckhorn and White Cross Districts) Three parcels: corn, small grains, soybeans and sorghum. Farm located on Teer Rd. Compton moved to approve; seconded by Thompson; motion carried. Thomas Teer: 36.06 acres for VAD (Cane Creek/Buckhorn and White Cross Districts). Two parcels: dairy cattle, corn, small grains, pasture and hayland. Farm located on Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Rd. Compton moved to approve; seconded by Thompson; motion carried. Members suggested that the big map could show the acreage totals in large type so that you can see that when viewing the map. Staff asked about the handouts for the VAD/EVADs: we did not hand out the aerial photos for this group. The group felt it was helpful sometimes to have the aerial views to review, as it shows at a glance what portions of the proposed farm are being used for each purpose, if that is not too costly. (b): Consideration of new applicant for Ag Board: There is a new applicant, Renee Parker, for your consideration; her application was included in your packet. The BOCC could consider a new applicant at their final meeting this spring, on June 16th. Members were updated on membership activity: the BOCC formally appointed Vanhook and Scherle, and appointed McAdams to serve as a district member for High Rock/Efland. Terms for McPherson and Ashley Parker expire and the end of June. Both agreed to be reappointed. Compton moved to recommend Renee Parker to the BOCC for an at-large appointment at the June meeting; seconded by Woods; motion carried. Discussion followed about prospective members for current vacancies. Names suggested included: Allison Nichols Nutter at Mapleview, Richie or Beverly Roberts, and James Thompson. 7. Informational Items / Future Agenda Items a. Update on AG Support Enterprises program for Rural Buffer: The BOCC approved the final version of this as modified by Chapel Hill and Carrboro to delete a few high-traffic or industrial type activities. Staff will work with Ranells (who kindly volunteered) to develop a more user-friendly informational brochure about this program for Planning to hand out to farmers seeking to apply for this program. Staff will convene a work session to get this started. b. Other upcoming events:: The Farm to Fork Picnic event will be held at Breeze Farm on June 7th; this event has raised more money than the county provides so it is a big fund raising event; tickets are $100 per person. There is an event that same Friday night when Vivian Howard from the Chef and the Farmer will speak along with Paul Greenberg, who will talk about sustainable fisheries. Cost is $165. We will let you know the date for the upcoming Blackwood Farm Park opening ceremony, pending a decision by the BOCC. 8. Adjournment: McAdams moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Parker; motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 pm.