EXHIBITS Page 89 <br />a. Encourage agricultural activities by preserving and maintaining agricultural lands <br />through the use of an exclusive agricultural zone which is consistent with ORS 215 and <br />OAR 660 Division 033. <br />b. In Agricultural Rent Zones 1 and 2 preference will be given to Goal 3. In Rent Zone 3, <br />unless commercial agricultural enterprises exist, preference will be given to Goal 4. <br />Reserve the use of the best agricultural soils exclusively for agricultural purposes. <br />d. To ensure that zoning districts applied to agricultural lands encourage valid agricultural <br />practices in a realistic manner emphasis shall be placed on minimum parcel sizes which <br />are based upon a countywide inventory and which are adequate for the continuation of <br />commercial agriculture. As minimum parcel sizes decrease to accommodate more <br />specialized commercial agricultural activities, the burden of proof upon the applicant <br />shall increase in order to substantiate the proposed agricultural activity and restrictions <br />shall increase in order to obtain a residence on the commercial farm unit. Deviation from <br />minimum parcel sizes of the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU/RCP) land for the creation of a <br />parcel not smaller than 20 acres may be allowed when at least 19 acres of the parcel <br />being created are currently managed or planned to be managed by a farm management <br />plan for a farm operation consisting of one or more of the following: berries, grapes, or <br />horticultural specialties. <br />e. Use planning and implementation techniques that reflect appropriate uses and treatment <br />for each type of land. <br />f. Encourage irrigation, drainage and flood control projects that benefit agricultural use with <br />minimum environmental degradation in accordance with existing state and federal <br />regulations. <br />g. Some agricultural land is not suitable or available for agricultural use by nature of being built <br />upon, committed to or needed for nonagricultural uses, by using applicable <br />comprehensive plan policies and the exceptions process of Goal 2, Part II. <br />h. Provide maximum protection to agricultural activities by minimizing activities, <br />particularly residential, that conflict with such use. Whenever possible, planning goals, <br />policies, and regulations should be interpreted in favor of agricultural activities. <br />Agricultural lands shall be identified as high value farm lands and farm lands in other soil <br />classes in accordance with OAR 660 Division 033. <br />Such minimum lot sizes or land division criteria as are used in EFU/RCP zones shall be <br />appropriate for the continuation of the existing commercial agricultural enterprise in the <br />region. The commercial agricultural minimum field or parcel sizes and corresponding <br />farming regions identified in the Addendum to Working Paper: Agricultural Lands shall <br />be used to determine the appropriate division requirements for lands zoned EFU/RCP. <br />k. Conversion of rural agricultural land to urbanizable land shall follow the process and <br />criteria set forth in Goals 3 and 14. <br />Regard non-agricultural uses within or adjacent to agricultural lands as being subject to <br />the normal and accepted agricultural practices of that locality. <br />Laurel Ridge Record (Z 15-5) Page 652 <br />