HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresentation - Agricultural LandsCounty Farm Designation and Land Uses
Deschutes County Planning Commission
January 23, 2014
COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS
Reframing the Discussion
1.Process to date enabled staff to reframe the
issue away from Non-Resource Lands
o Planning Commission engagement
o Panel Discussions
o Public Input
2.It is premature to contemplate agricultural land
alternatives (i.e. Non-Resource Lands) when we
don’t know all the issues today
3.Topic of interest is understanding community,
stakeholder, and landowner opinions about
Deschutes County farm designations and land
uses
1.The Comprehensive Plan Update (2011)
recaps the contentious history of
agricultural land designations in
Deschutes County and recognizes they
remain controversial
2.Public expressed differences of opinion
over which lands should be designated
farm lands and what uses should be
allowed
Why Discuss Farm Designations and Land Uses?
3.The Comprehensive Plan Update recognizes:
•Agriculture is part of the ongoing local economy
•Secondary benefits of agricultural lands: scenic
open spaces, rural character, and contributions to
tourism economy
•Difficult to predict future agricultural
opportunities
•Preserving farm lands benefits the wider public at
expense of landowners
•Farm land is marginal without irrigation
•Agricultural zoning applied to land with no history
of farming
•Potential adverse impacts to farming community
from agricultural land conversion
Why Discuss Farm Designations and Land Uses?
4.Comprehensive Plan Agricultural Lands Goals and
Policies:
•Provide basis for evaluating the future of
agriculture over next 20 years
•Encourage flexibility, within state guidelines, to the
farming community
•Support preserving farm lands by ensuring a
variety of alternative paths to profitability
5.Comprehensive Plan Community Involvement Goals
and Policies:
•Underscores the importance of engaging all
members of the community on programs affecting
land use
Comprehensive
Plan Update
Agricultural
Lands
Goals 1 - 3
Policies
2.2.3, 2.2.4,
2.2.12, 2.2.13,
2.2.14
Why Discuss Farm Designations and Land Uses?
Goal 1 Preserve and maintain agricultural lands and the agricultural industry.
Policy 2.2.3 Allow comprehensive plan and zoning map amendments for individual
EFU parcels as allowed by State Statute, Oregon Administrative Rules
and this Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 2.2.4 Develop comprehensive policy criteria and code to provide clarity on
when and how EFU parcels can be converted to other designations.
Goal 2 Promote a diverse, sustainable, revenue-generating agricultural sector.
Policy 2.2.12 Review County Code and revise as needed to permit alternative and
supplemental farm activities that are compatible with farming, such as
agri-tourism or commercial renewable energy projects. When a
preferred alternative or supplemental use identified through a public
process is not permitted by State regulations work with the State to
review and revise their regulations.
Why Discuss Farm Designations and Land Uses?
Goal 3 Ensure Exclusive Farm Use policies, classifications and codes are
consistent with local and emerging agricultural conditions and
markets.
Policy 2.2.13 Identify and retain accurately designated agricultural lands.
Policy 2.2.14 Explore new methods of identifying and classifying agricultural lands.
a.Apply for grants to review and, if needed, update farmland
designations.
b.Study County agricultural designations considering elements such
as water availability, farm viability and economics, climatic
conditions, land use patterns, accepted farm practices, and
impacts on public services.
c.Lobby for changes to State statute regarding agricultural definitions
specific to Deschutes County that would allow some
reclassification of agricultural lands.
Why Discuss Farm Designations and Land Uses?
It Starts with a Conversation
Deschutes County is interested in
understanding public, stakeholder, and
landowner opinions about the
opportunities and challenges facing
agricultural designated (EFU) lands
•What’s working?
•What’s not?
your say in Deschutes County’s future
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
spend a little time on the future of your county
JOIN A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Why Discuss Farm Designations and Land Uses?
•What do you value about EFU Lands?
•What are the advantages of EFU zoning?
•Are there emerging agricultural opportunities given the possibilities
of new farming techniques, different crops, and climate change?
•What are the disadvantages and challenges of EFU zoning?
•Given the disadvantages and challenges, what would you like to see
changed relative to the EFU zone?
•Should the County explore alternatives to EFU zoning? If so, what
would you like considered?
Potential Questions
Why Discuss Farm Designations and Land Uses?
Outreach Strategies
Engaging Groups and
Communities
Media Outreach
Targeted Stakeholder
Input
Public Forums
General Public
Interested Public/Citizen Leaders
Stakeholder Groups
Public Agencies
EFU Landowners
Irrigation Districts
Community Input Strategies and Timeline
•Background material
•GIS Zoning Maps
•Written materials
•Opportunities for verbal comments
Upon receiving Planning Commission and BOCC support, staff will
initiate community conversations for 2-3 months throughout the
region, holding listening sessions in Alfalfa, Bend, Brothers, La Pine,
Redmond, Sisters, Terrebonne, and Tumalo and other locations TBD
* Results will be presented to the Planning Commission and BOCC
and staff will seek direction on next steps . . .
Tentative Timeline
Resource Materials
Exclusive Farm Use Zone (EFU)
Exclusive Farm Use Zone (EFU)
Exclusive Farm Use Zone (EFU)
Questions, Comments, Revisions