- Similar to concerns about siting large scale solar on farmland- the primary use of the Ag Reserve is farming. Landscape companies allowed by right in the Reserve will drive up prices for new farmers to access land in the zone set aside for Agriculture. The proposed ZTA identifies 2 acre parcels for these industrial uses - the same amount of land a new table crop producer is ideally looking for.
- Keeping this industry type as a conditional use allows a review of how an operation would fit into a specific area. All surrounding jurisdictions have stringent (sometimes more stringent) qualifiers on where landscapers can locate. Changing to a limited use would allow these intensive uses to be sited much more broadly with few protections. Missing in a limited use approval are considerations for: Impervious surface and water quality, forest destruction, road width and condition and noise.
"Staff is very concerned about the negative impacts Landscape Contractors often have on neighboring residential uses, which are directly related to their operations and can only be properly mitigated through detailed analysis and regulatory conditions imposed by the Conditional Use process."
Also let us know if you are affiliated with a civic organization that would like to sign on to group correspondence. Email us at:
Info@mocoalliance.org
Public hearing on November 30, 2021 has been limited to only 5 speakers and is now full. So the council needs to hear from the public via emails and/or calls in advance of 11/30.
Proposed change to zoning code (see the zones impacted on the map above):