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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZTA201000004 Legacy Document 2010-12-07 (5)ATTACHMENT D D: Agricultural Support Uses Background: Albemarle County has put a great emphasis on the importance of the agriculture and forestry to the local economy. An evolving example is the local food production movement, defined as including animal husbandry, crop processing and sales as well as value -added products (cider, vinegar, wine, baked goods, candy, sauces and cheeses), as evidenced by the activity levels of direct sales (festivals and farmer's markets) and the increase in other venues for local sales (gourmet stores, the Food Hub, and local restaurants selling menu items derived from local sources). Entrepreneurs and consumers alike are seeking better health and the flavor afforded by fresh and local food. A primary consideration in support of agriculture and forestry is the extent to which production, processing and supporting uses, such as retail, are allowed in industrial districts. Uses considered supportive include sawmills and wood processing, food collection and distribution, food and beverage manufacturing (canning, baking, abattoir, distilling or bottling). Nursery activities, such as hydroponic or aquaponic greenhouses and aquaculture, also support agriculture. Staff looked at some "peer" jurisdictions - Hanover, Culpeper, Louisa and Nelson Counties, and the City of Virginia Beach - to see if there were any notable differences in their treatment of industry to support agriculture as all of these jurisdictions rely on agricultural industry for overall economic vitality. The table below lists the main features of the different jurisdictions' codes: Recommendations: Generally, Albemarle County's industrial allowances for activities that support agriculture and forestry compare favorably to those of these comparison counties. The LI zoning district allows for "manufacturing, processing, fabrication, assembly, distribution of products such as but not limited to" a specific list of activities including - "food products, such as bakery goods, dairy products, candy, beverages, including bottling plants ". Staff proposes continued allowance of all aspects of food and beverage production and clarifying other allowances under manufacturing, processing, fabrication, assembly and distribution so as to not leave question as to whether particular agriculturally related activities are permitted, including: Forestry Food Processing/Animal processing Other Louisa Co. Temporary & permanent Agricultural enterprise, farm sales & Commercial & private sawmills, forestry wayside stand, livestock market, stables dairy Nelson Co. Manufacturing, processing, warehouse, wholesaling (provided no air discharge requiring smoke stack approval) Culpeper co. Fabrication of wood products Wholesale, warehouse operations, By SP, fairgrounds, race manufacture, assembly, & processing tracks of frozen foods, beverage, confections, &horticultural products Hanover Co. In M -1: Agriculture and forestry, M -1, Manufacturing of food, By Conditional Use Permit, (M -1, M -2, M -3) nursery for growing or beverages, bakery, cold storage. commercial greenhouses, propagating plants, trees, Wineries, not vineyards. In M -2, flour wholesale or retail. By SP, shrubs. In M -2: lumber yards, & feed milling and processing; agricultural or farm millwork. M -3 pulp, paper and agricultural or farm implements, implements, manufacture paperboard, reconstituted wood manufacture, sale, storage or repair, sale, storage or repair; flour products; wood trusses, grain storage, greenhouses, & fed milling, processing sawmills & planing mills commercial wholesale or retail, and packaging; grain poultry packing and slaughtering storage; lumber and other (wholesale), fertilizer storage. M -3, building material storage refining, blending animal fats & oils; and sales. M -3 Conditional fish curing, meat or fish product uses: manufacturing manufacturing, cider & vinegar, pesticide, fertilizer and other distiller agricultural chemicals City of Virginia Firewood preparation manufacturing, processing, Heavy equipment sales & Beach packaging; wholesaling, service, repair warehousing, storage, distribution establishments Recommendations: Generally, Albemarle County's industrial allowances for activities that support agriculture and forestry compare favorably to those of these comparison counties. The LI zoning district allows for "manufacturing, processing, fabrication, assembly, distribution of products such as but not limited to" a specific list of activities including - "food products, such as bakery goods, dairy products, candy, beverages, including bottling plants ". Staff proposes continued allowance of all aspects of food and beverage production and clarifying other allowances under manufacturing, processing, fabrication, assembly and distribution so as to not leave question as to whether particular agriculturally related activities are permitted, including: ATTACHMENT D 1. Agricultural or farm implements (heavy equipment) manufacture and repair (sales and rental would also be allowed as subordinate and /or supporting uses) 2. Wholesale greenhouse and /or commercial wholesale nurseries - - agriculturally based production (aquaponics, hydroponics, etc.)