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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final March 16, 2021 Recommended Action: no action required Attachments: Public Discussion Request Hendrix & Simmons Mr. Spencer Simmons, 7350 37th Street, provided a timeline for the Board on the ongoing issue of commercial businesses in agricultural zoned districts. He believed that lawn care businesses did not belong in agricultural districts unless they changed their business exemption. He asked the Board to reconsider having lawn businesses in agricultural districts. Mr. Ken Hendrix, 6220 1st Street SW, spoke on the landscape business next to his property, the ratio rule, and wanted the Board to revisit commercial businesses located in agricultural districts. Tim Campbell referred to the County's Land Development Regulation (LDR) Amendment and the lower taxes paid by the landscaping businesses because they were located in agricultural districts. Commissioner Earman confirmed the amount of taxes paid by landscaping business was lower and felt everyone should follow the rules of the agricultural exemption. Commissioner Earman told that he had met with the Property Appraiser regarding the issue and had received clarification. He wanted to make sure that the businesses followed the rules and everybody paid their fair share in taxes, noting that it was something he wanted to personally look at further. Commissioner Adams provided history of the ongoing issue of commercial businesses in agricultural zoned districts. She cautioned it was a slippery slope as to what and who determines what qualifies as agriculture activities, what qualifies as an ancillary activity to agriculture, and which came first. She mentioned there were bills moving through the legislature dealing with the Right to Farm Act and recommended the Board wait to see how it played out. She reminded the Board that the County was going through a development review process regarding different zonings to address the issues in the agriculture enclaves. Commissioner Moss thanked those who spoke and found the timeline interesting. She wanted to go back and watch videos on the discussions that had taken place. A discussion followed regarding the changes to the LDR's and the process to move the item forward. Vice Chairman O'Bryan agreed with Commissioner Adams and acknowledged that he had voted in favor of the LDR changes in March 2020 and October 2020. He added that the Board included a grandfathering clause for the existing commercial lawn service businesses so they would not be impacted by the LDR changes. He supported the Commissioners bringing the item back to the Board. Indian River County Florida Page 10