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Agenda Item
12. Recommendation to receive an update and provide direction to staff by confirming or modifying the priority order of actions to implement the Envision Washoe 2040 Master Plan and changes mandated through the 2025 Session of the Nevada Legislature. Topics for prioritization may include, but are not limited to: County-wide affordable housing initiatives; public noticing; permitting requirements for equine businesses; dark skies; heat mitigation; and agritourism. Community Services. (All Commission Districts.) FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
The challenge with what you are reviewing in the Envision Washoe 2040 document is the constant statement of urban agriculture versus agriculture. Urban agriculture is an important aspect of developing areas that are close to Reno/Sparks/Incline Village, but that only encompasses approximately 200 square miles of the 6,600 square miles representing Washoe County.
There are several unincorporated Washoe County residents that would like to develop agriculture business to support our area, but limitations within the current code prevent this. Our properties are in rural areas that are zoned either, Low Density Rural, General Rural, General Rural Agricultural.
As is stated in the Staff Report the Development Code does allow for activities such as agricultural sales, animal production and produce sales. But within our farm, which is located in a Low Density Rural zone we are required to obtain a special use permit for sales. The cost would make this an unprofitable option in our location. As is mentioned in the definition of agritourism, education is one aspect. The current Development Code does not allow education in rural locations.
Due to the rural designation, we would never fit into any revision that would include the statement of "urban agriculture". Many people know and love Andelin Farms, that is the ultimate in agritourism. This is not the type of agritourism many of us wish to create. We would like to have a farm stand that would reduce residents near us needing to commute to farmers markets or even an urban area to access locally grown food.
By revising the language to include rural locations you would also support your planning code revision "Review and amend the development and architectural standards with the goal of reducing emissions and increasing resiliency".
By supporting rural agriculture through agritourism you will improve your heat mitigation by possibly reducing rural residents travel and increasing the amount of green material being produced in the county. Something not mentioned in any of the provided documents is the food insecurity problem within Washoe County. Allowing more rural farms to operate in a profitable manner could also improve food security opportunities county wide.
The challenge with what you are reviewing in the Envision Washoe 2040 document is the constant statement of urban agriculture versus agriculture. Urban agriculture is an important aspect of developing areas that are close to Reno/Sparks/Incline Village, but that only encompasses approximately 200 square miles of the 6,600 square miles representing Washoe County.
There are several unincorporated Washoe County residents that would like to develop agriculture business to support our area, but limitations within the current code prevent this. Our properties are in rural areas that are zoned either, Low Density Rural, General Rural, General Rural Agricultural.
As is stated in the Staff Report the Development Code does allow for activities such as agricultural sales, animal production and produce sales. But within our farm, which is located in a Low Density Rural zone we are required to obtain a special use permit for sales. The cost would make this an unprofitable option in our location. As is mentioned in the definition of agritourism, education is one aspect. The current Development Code does not allow education in rural locations.
Due to the rural designation, we would never fit into any revision that would include the statement of "urban agriculture". Many people know and love Andelin Farms, that is the ultimate in agritourism. This is not the type of agritourism many of us wish to create. We would like to have a farm stand that would reduce residents near us needing to commute to farmers markets or even an urban area to access locally grown food.
By revising the language to include rural locations you would also support your planning code revision "Review and amend the development and architectural standards with the goal of reducing emissions and increasing resiliency".
By supporting rural agriculture through agritourism you will improve your heat mitigation by possibly reducing rural residents travel and increasing the amount of green material being produced in the county. Something not mentioned in any of the provided documents is the food insecurity problem within Washoe County. Allowing more rural farms to operate in a profitable manner could also improve food security opportunities county wide.