Ordinance No. 20545 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Draft 9/29/14 a.Encourage agricultural activities by preserving and maintaining agricultural lands through the use of an exclusive agricultural zone which is consistent with ORS 215 and OAR 660 Division 033. b. In Agricultural Rent Zones 1 and 2 preference will be given to Goal 3. In Rent Zone 3, unless commercial agricultural enterprises exist, preference will be given to Goal 4. c.Reserve the use of the best agricultural soils exclusively for agricultural purposes. d.To ensure that zoning districts applied to agricultural lands encourage valid agricultural practices in a realistic manner emphasis shall be placed on minimum parcel sizes which are based upon a countywide inventory and which are adequate for the continuation of commercial agriculture. As minimum parcel sizes decrease to accommodate more specialized commercial agricultural activities, the burden of proof upon the applicant shall increase in order to substantiate the proposed agricultural activity and restrictions shall increase in order to obtain a residence on the commercial farm unit. Deviation from minimum parcel sizes of the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU/RCP) land for the creation of a parcel not smaller than 20 acres may be allowed when at least 19 acres of the parcel being created are currently managed or planned to be managed by a farm management plan for a farm operation consisting of one or more of the following: berries, grapes, or horticultural specialties. e. Use planning and implementation techniques that reflect appropriate uses and treatment for each type of land. f. Encourage irrigation, drainage and flood control projects that benefit agricultural use with minimum environmental degradation in accordance with existing state and federal regulations. g.Some agricultural land is not suitable or available for agricultural use by nature of being built upon, committed to or needed for nonagricultural uses, by using applicable comprehensive plan policies and the exceptions process of Goal 2, Part II. h.Provide maximum protection to agricultural activities by minimizing activities, particularly residential, that conflict with such use. Whenever possible, planning goals, policies, and regulations should be interpreted in favor of agricultural activities. i.Agricultural lands shall be identified as high value farm lands and farm lands in other soil classes in accordance with OAR 660 Division 033. j.Such minimum lot sizes or land division criteria as are used in EFU/RCP zones shall be appropriate for the continuation of the existing commercial agricultural enterprise in the region. The commercial agricultural minimum field or parcel sizes and corresponding farming regions identified in the Addendum to Working Paper: Agricultural Landsshall be used to determine the appropriate division requirements for lands zoned EFU/RCP. k. Conversion of rural agricultural land to urbanizable land shall follow the process and criteria set forth in Goals 3 and 14. l. Regard non-agricultural uses within or adjacent to agricultural lands as being subject to the normal and accepted agricultural practices of that locality. III-C-4