CU-P24-049 Staff Decision - Laserfiche WebLink

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Marion County Septic commented: “Authorization with full existing system evaluation report and a site evaluation to establish a repair area for (the) 2 acre parcel. Nothing is needed for the larger parcel .” All other commenting agencies stated no objection to the proposal. 7. In order to approve a commercial activity in conjunction with farm use the applicant must demonstrate compliance with the specific criteria listed in Chapter 17.136.060(D) of the Marion County Code (MCC). These include: (a) The commercial activity must be primarily a customer or supplier of farm uses. A commercial grass seed cleaning facility is a supplier of product preparation services for grass seed farming operations. It almost exclusively serves agricultural uses. The criterion is met. (b) The commercial activity must enhance the farming enterprises of the local agricultural community to which the land hosting that commercial activity relates. Grass seed production is the predominant agricultural activity in the local area. The proposed facility will provide a local seed cleaning service, reducing the distance farm trucks must haul the raw product, saving farmers both time and money during harvest. The criterion is met. (c) The agricultural and commercial activities must occur together in the local community to satisfy the statute. As stated previously, grass seed production is the predominant agricultural practice in the local area, which is the primary target clientele of the proposed commercial operation. The criterion is met. (d) The products and services provided must be essential to the practice of agriculture. When grass seed is harvested, dirt and chaff are collected with the desired seed and the seed must be cleaned before it is commercially viable for sale. The proposed grass seed cleaning operation will provide this essential preparation service. The criterion is met. 8. In addition to the specific criteria above, the proposal must also satisfy the conditional use criteria in MCC 17.136.060(A). Those requirements are: (a) The use will not force a significant change in, or significantly increase the cost of, accepted farm or forest practices on surrounding lands devoted to farm or forest use. Land devoted to farm or forest use does not include farm or forest use on lots or parcels upon which a non-farm or non-forest dwelling has been approved and established, in exception areas approved under ORS 197.732, or in an acknowledged urban growth boundary. The site of the seed cleaning operation is already developed with the structures for the seed cleaner, storage, and parking/driving area and the applicants indicate the cleaner has been on the property for the past 25 years. There is an established buffer area between neighboring fields and the facility, including trees, a stream, and the open driving areas. Using the available July 2023 imagery, staff determined that most of the farm fields in the immediate area had at least a 200-foot buffer to the structures involved in the operation, which is the standard buffer for non-farm uses. Finally, most of the pollution generated by the seed cleaning facility will be in the form of dust and loud noise, which is unlikely to disrupt the existing pattern of local farming practices. It is reasonable to assume that the accepted farm or forest practices in the area will not incur increases in cost based on the proposal and location. The criterion is met. (b) Adequate fire protection and other rural services are, or will be, available when the use is established.