AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor: 

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date:

Peter B. Schwartz, Marshall District Supervisor

February 18, 2010

Staff Lead:

Department: 

Kimberley Johnson, Zoning Administrator

Community Development

Topic:  

A Resolution Initiating a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to Sections 3-318 and 15-300 to Allow Smaller Scale Aquaculture By-Right in the Rural Agricultural District and to Define Aquaculture and Aquaponics

Topic Description: 

The existing Zoning Ordinance regulations require a special exception for aquaculture, regardless of the scale of the operation.  Aquaculture is the growing and harvesting of plant or animal organisms in a natural or artificial aquatic situation. Aquaponics is a type of aquaculture where fish or other aquatic life are raised symbiotically with other plants.  Aquaponics typically occurs all or in part within greenhouse structures, which are separately regulated under the Zoning Ordinance, with a wholesale greenhouse up to 10,000 square feet allowed by-right and larger or retail greenhouses requiring special permit approval.   The overlapping use categories that would apply to aquaponics create some confusion. This text amendment would allow wholesale aquaculture operations, including aquaponics, up to 10,000 square feet to be by-right, consistent with the greenhouse provisions.  The amendment also adds definitions for Aquaculture, Aquaponics, and Greenhouses.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors:

For purposes of good zoning practice, convenience, and general welfare, consider initiation of the proposed text amendment through adoption of the attached resolution.

Financial Impact Analysis:

No financial impact analysis has been conducted.

Identify any other Departments, Organizations or Individuals that would be affected by this request:

Economic Development