Staff Recommendation - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

5 land or its physical setting that do not apply generally to other land in the vicinity. For the purposes of this section, this criterion asks whether the subject lot or parcel can be physically put to farm use without undue hardship or difficulty because of extraordinary circumstances inherent in the land or its physical setting. Neither size alone nor a parcel’s limited economic potential demonstrate that a lot or parcel cannot be practicably managed for farm use. Examples of extraordinary circumstances inherent in the land or its physical setting include very steep slopes, deep ravines, rivers, streams, roads, railroad or utility lines or other similar natural or physical barriers that by themselves or in combination separate the subject lot or parcel from adjacent agricultural land and prevent it from being practicably managed for farm use by itself or together with adjacent or nearby farms. A lot or parcel that has been put to farm use despite the proximity of a natural barrier or since the placement of a physical barrier shall be presumed manageable for farm use; and The subject parcel is currently entirely in use for timber production. There are no steep slopes or other specific extraordinary physical circumstances related to the land itself. The timber on the parcel could be harvested and replanted. The SA zone purpose explains that the “zone allows the flexibility in management needed to obtain maximum resource production from these lands. It emphasizes farm use, but forest use is allowed and protected from conflicts.” While the current use for timber is aligned with the goal of the SA zone, this criterion specifies “farm uses”. The north and east adjacent SA parcels are in small farm and rural residential use. The subject parcel’s size and the cost of returning from timber production to farm use create a situation where the economic potential is significantly limited. Staff agrees with the applicant that farm use is unlikely on this parcel. However, the criterion specifically requires that the subject parcel cannot be practicably managed for farm use and references extraordinary circumstances inherent in the land as reasons that make farming a parcel impracticable. Staff requested a supplement from the applicant representative to address this criterion in more depth. The applicant representative supplied the addendum and addressed in more detail the impediments to agricultural use inherent in the subject parcel. The subject parcel is within the Sensitive Groundwater Overlay and does not have water rights. The applicant attests that this precludes the option of farming any irrigated crops. Equipment to facilitate farming this parcel would have to access it via a non- county road (Everett Dr S) or be housed in a storage facility on site. Storing equipment on site would further diminish the available land for farming on an already small parcel. The applicant attests that this roadway is a public gravel road. According to the Marion County GIS maps, the finished road surface is approximately 10 feet wide. A staff visit confirmed that Everett Dr S is extremely